Agha Salman and Aamer Jamal’s half-centuries couldn’t prevent Pakistan from being bowled out for 220 in their second innings, leading to a heavy defeat by an innings and 47 runs against England. Remarkably, this marked the first time in Test history that a team lost by an innings after scoring over 500 runs in their first innings.
On the second-to-last day, Pakistan’s top order collapsed in their second innings after England had taken a commanding lead. Heading into the final day, Pakistan still trailed by 115 runs with only four wickets remaining.
Salman and Jamal managed to hold off England’s bowlers for nearly an hour in the morning session. Salman, who had scored a century in the first innings, followed up with a half-century, reaching the milestone with a boundary early in the day. England quickly switched to short-pitched bowling, unsettling Jamal with a few deliveries that landed near fielders and even one that struck him on the helmet.
The pair added 109 runs for the seventh wicket, marking Pakistan’s first century stand for that wicket in the third innings. Although their partnership didn’t save the match, it helped Pakistan get close to erasing their first-innings deficit and offered hope of extending the game to a fourth innings.
However, the resistance ended when Salman was trapped lbw by Jack Leach, who struck him on the pads. A review could not save Salman, and he departed after an hour of play.
Jamal continued to frustrate the English attack, reaching his half-century with a single to mid-on. Despite being dropped by Ollie Pope at square leg and surviving a missed run-out chance, Jamal held on. Shaheen Afridi briefly swung his bat before miscuing a shot that resulted in a diving catch for Leach.
Leach took all three wickets to fall on the final day, but England’s victory was built on their massive first-innings total of 823-7 declared, powered by Harry Brook’s 317 and Joe Root’s 262. In response, Pakistan had posted 556 in their first innings, but their second-innings collapse sealed their fate.
This defeat marked Pakistan’s sixth consecutive loss, extending their winless run at home to 11 matches.
Brief Scores:
Pakistan: 556 & 220 (Agha Salman 63, Aamer Jamal 55; Jack Leach 4-30)
England: 823/7 decl. (Harry Brook 317, Joe Root 262; Naseem Shah 2-157)
England won by an innings and 47 runs.