Team Neemopani
Day 5 highlights from Pakistan vs. England’s first test match: At Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Monday, England defeated Pakistan by 74 runs in the opening Test of the three-match series. Ben Stokes, the visiting captain, chose to bat first after winning the toss. A global record of 500 or more runs in a Test match’s opening day was set by England, who scored 657 runs in their first innings. Pakistan, meanwhile, responded with a respectable score of 579. Following a declaration by England at 264 for 7, Pakistan were given a target of 343 runs to reach before being bowled out for 268.
How good is test cricket? 🙌
— Glenn Maxwell (@Gmaxi_32) December 5, 2022
Ollie Robinson scoops player of the match, his second innings bowling performance certainly helped get England over the line on the final day, 4-50 on that wicket is a great effort.
Amazing performance by England! It was their sheer self belief and all out aggressive strategy that won them the match. Big credit to Stokes and McCullum. Pakistan have a lot of thinking to do!
— Shahid Afridi (@SAfridiOfficial) December 5, 2022
Babar Azam: “We were not up to the mark. After England scored 600 we had a plan to try and get above their score. Second innings we had a golden chance to win this Test, but session by session we lost wickets. Our bowling was young and Haris Rauf was injured so that cost us. But all credit to our bowlers. It was difficult, we wanted to stick to our plans, credit to them (England).
We expected that they would declare and we planned according to the situation. We had our opportunity but we couldn’t get partnerships in the end. We have a lot of positives to take, our batting line-up performed very well and the bowling as well, so we will try to continue that in the next match.”
Captain Stokes speaks:
“There’s a few things you can plan for… and some things you can’t. What happened to the squad a few days before the match you can’t plan for (a reference to the sickness bug in the Englands camp). A few days ago we were running around trying to start on time. So credit to the group for coming here, turning up under the weather, Will Jacks getting the nod at the last minute and Popey having to take the gloves. What we’ve had to deal with makes this win even better.
“We’ve played eight or nine Test matches with me and Brendon in charge and we try to focus on ourselves, take the positive option and not second guess ourselves with what the opposition might do. We’ve got an exciting team and it was a great pitch to bat on, so a chance for us to go and express themselves. For the lads to run in all day as they did today, it’s great as a captain to see that enthusiasm. I don’t think I’ve seen a group that want to put their bodies on the line so much. This is a really special group.
