England Trails Pakistan in First Test as Crawley and Root Stabilize Innings

In the first Test match between Pakistan and England in Multan, Pakistan established a commanding position by scoring 556 runs in their first innings. This was followed by a rapid response from England, who scored 154 for 2 in 30 overs by the end of Day 3’s first session. The match marks a significant moment, showcasing Pakistan’s batting strength and England’s efforts to maintain a foothold in the series.

Pakistan’s formidable total was driven by centuries from Shan Masood (151), Salman Ali Agha (104*), and Abdullah Shafique (102). Saud Shakeel contributed with a score of 82, supporting Pakistan’s innings further. England’s bowlers had a tough outing, with Jack Leach taking 3 wickets for 160 runs, while Chris Woakes and Gus Atkinson each contributed two wickets.

The England innings faced a setback when opener Zak Crawley was dismissed for 78 runs after being caught by Aamer Jamal off a delivery from Shaheen Shah Afridi. Earlier, England had a rough start as their captain Ollie Pope was dismissed for a duck by Naseem Shah. However, Joe Root and Ben Duckett provided much-needed stability. Root remains unbeaten on 41, while Duckett is not out on 34, as England trails Pakistan by 402 runs.

Former England fast bowler Steven Finn discussed England’s strategy, stating that Pakistan did not allow England spinners, particularly Shoaib Bashir, to settle, forcing them to rely on their fast bowlers for longer periods. “England are taking a similar approach, balancing aggressiveness with caution to avoid recklessness,” Finn noted.

Root’s performance since relinquishing the captaincy has been impressive, averaging 58 compared to 46.44 during his tenure as the team’s leader. Former Pakistan captain Ramiz Raja praised Root’s capability, stating, “The way Joe Root has handled himself after leaving the England captaincy is sensational,” adding that Root remained an exceptional team player, focusing on the game rather than personal accolades.

England’s responses were characterized by aggressive batting from Crawley, who made a strong comeback after missing the Sri Lanka series with an injury. His partnership with Root has so far added 92 runs, providing England a more secure stance in the ongoing Test.

On Pakistan’s side, Salman Ali Agha’s unbeaten century helped solidify their dominant position, as he tactically attacked England’s spinners, maintaining the team’s momentum. His audacious shots against Jack Leach, which included consecutive boundaries, highlighted Pakistan’s expansive batting strategy.

The match proceedings also witnessed notable plays from Pakistan’s Naseem Shah, who achieved his highest score in any format with 33 runs, proving a challenging opponent for England’s bowlers. His ability to hold off England’s attacks further contributed to Pakistan’s substantial total.