Leach leads England to defeat Pakistan in first Test

Agency :

England’s bowlers, led by spinner Jack Leach, tore through Pakistan to secure victory in the first Test in Multan on Friday after a record partnership between Harry Brook and Joe Root turned the match on its head.
England’s attack made short work of the last four Pakistan batters on Day 5, dismissing the hosts for 200 to win by an innings and 47 runs and draw first blood in the three-match series.
Leach led the England attack with 4-30 ending Pakistan’s only meaningful partnership on the fifth day when he dislodged Salman Agha for a fighting 63.
Pakistan were in danger of losing the match a day earlier when Salman and Aamer Jamal came together with the score on 82-6.
But the duo saw out the remainder of play and made England wait another 12 overs on the final day before Leach struck to open the floodgates.
Leach took a smart return catch to get Shaheen Shah Afridi for ten and then had Naseem Shah stumped for six, wrapping up Pakistan’s second innings.
Last man Abrar Ahmed was unable to bat after being taken to hospital with a high fever.
Pakistan’s collapse marked a quick turnaround to the match after a flat Multan stadium pitch saw 1,379 runs scored for the loss of just 17 wickets.
Brook smashed 317 and Root a record-setting 262 in England’s mammoth 823-7 declared, giving the visitors a 267-run lead.
Their 454, England’s highest-ever partnership for any wicket in Test cricket, gave the visitors an improbable advantage after Pakistan’s impressive 556 first-innings total.