ISLAMABAD – Pakistan on Sunday beat England by nine wickets in the firsttest at Lord’s to take 1-0 lead in the two-match series.
This is Pakistan fifth Test victory at Lord’s following wins at the “homeof cricket” in 1982, 1992, 1996 and 2016.
Pakistan set a target of just 64 runs to win the first Test at Lord’s onSunday following England’s latest batting collapse.
England, resuming on an overnight 235 for six, lost their last foursecond-innings wickets for a mere seven runs in 18 balls on the fourthmorning to be bowled out for 242.
But, in truth the damage had long been done by a pair of top-order slumpsthat saw England, so often dominant in early-season home conditions,dismissed for 184 in their first innings before declining to 110 for sixsecond time around.
That they had not already lost this match by an innings was down to acentury stand between the recalled Jos Buttler and Test debutant DominicBess that allowed England to resume Sunday on 235 for six, a lead of 56runs.
Buttler was then 66 not out and Bess 55 not out.
But eight balls into Sunday’s play and having added only one more run,Buttler was lbw to Mohammad Abbas for 67 after missing an intended drive.
Buttler reviewed but, with replays indicating the ball would have clippedthe top of the stumps, Australian umpire Paul Reiffel’s decision was upheld.
England’s were now 236 for seven and that soon became 241 for eight, afterthe tourists took the new ball when Mark Wood edged Mohammad Amir toPakistan captain and wicket-keeper Sarfraz Ahmed.
Stuart Broad made his Test-best 169 against Pakistan at Lord’s in 2010 — amatch that became known for a spot-fixing ‘sting’ that saw three Pakistanplayers, including Amir, jailed by an English court and given five-yearbans by the International Cricket Council.
But Broad’s batting has gone downhill since he was struck in the face by abouncer from India’s Varun Aaron in the fourth Test at Old Trafford fouryears ago.
And on Sunday he fell for a duck when prodding outside off stump at Abbas,with Sarfraz holding a routine catch.
The innings ended when Amir knocked over Bess’s off-stump as the batsmanwent to drive.
Amir finished with innings figures of four for 36 and the impressive Abbashad eight in the game after a second-innings haul of four for 41 in 17overs. – APP/AFP