England vs Pakistan: Top 5 epic test matches

Pakistan

England vs Pakistan: Top 5 Epic Test Matches

Pakistan and England will kick start 3-matches Test series in August. The rivalry between England and Pakistan is very old and the fight between Pakistani pacers and English batsmen has been excellent in the last 66 years. From the epic win in 1954 at Oval to Match-fixing scandal at Lord’s in 2010 – this rivalry saw some magnificent moments in the longest format of cricket.

Pakistan becomes no. 1 Test team during the 2016 series and Younis Khan become the top Test run-getter for Pakistan in the 2015 series. Broad also played his best knock (169) at Lord’s in 2010 and Misbah scored a record century at Lord’s at the age of 42. This rivalry is intense, engaging, and controversial for cricket fans. After the 2009 incident with Sri Lanka, England played Pakistan only in UAE and Pakistani spinners troubled them. From Abdul Kadir to Imran Khan and Shoaib Akhtar, Pakistani pacers had also surprised by their in-swings and yorkers. On the other hand, England had also given some top-notch batting and bowling performances to win most Test matches between them.

In today’s Test segment, we,re picking top 5 Test matches played between England and Pakistan.

#1 Lord’s Test, 2016

The Test is also known for Pakistani players’ press up after the win. Pakistan also becomes the number one Test side after this emphatic win. This Test win was more challenging for the Pakistan side filled with some youngsters. On the first day, Pakistan captain Misbah scored a well-fought century at the age of 42, and with Asad Shafiq (73), he helped his side to post 339 runs in first innings. In reply, Root and Cook put a strong partnership to take England 118 with losing one wicket but the middle-order couldn’t stretch the score to finish the first innings on 272. Yasir Shah trapped 6 English batsmen to put his name on Lord’s honor board.

In 2nd innings, England made a solid comeback to bowl out the opposition on 215. Pakistan got a total of 282 runs to defend in the 4th innings which was not an easy task for England. England lost their three top-order batsmen on 47 and later, the failure of middle-order secured Pakistan’s 75-runs victory at Lord’s. Yasir Shah claimed 4 wickets to complete his 10-wickets haul in the Test.

 

 

#2 Karachi Test, 2000

England toured Pakistan in 2000 and the series witness some amazing Tests. The first two Tests ended in a draw and both teams reached National Stadium, Karachi and England ended Pakistan’s 34 matches winning streak at Karachi. Pakistan elected to bat first on a batting-friendly track and scored 405 in the first innings thanks to a hundred from Mohammed Yusuf and Inzamam-ul-Haq. In the reply, England also batted very well and with the collective batting effort, they reached 388 in their first innings to trail behind by 17 runs. English opener Atherton scored a hundred and the captain Nassir Hussain contributed 51 runs.

Pakistan needed a good total in 4th innings to put pressure on England on the final day but they failed to do so as they bowled out on just 158. Pakistan needed a miracle on a dry wicket to avoid a series loss and got 3 wickets for 65 but the partnership between Graham Thorpe (64) and Graeme Hick (40) helped England to win this game by 4-wickets to win the series by 1-0.

 

 

#3 Multan Test, 2005

England was on a tour to Pakistan and England was boosted after the 1-0 series win in the last tour. First Test was played in Multan which was a batting track and a spin-friendly ground. After a good start from the top-order, Pakistan couldn’t capitalize and bowled out on 272 from 161/1. In reply, Marcus Trescothick and Ian Bell took this game away from the hosts and put a 180-runs stand. Marcus Trescothick played a terrific knock of 193. With the lead of 144 runs, England was on the top of the Test and Pakistan needed a good batting show to avoid the defeat and they got better their first inning score by managing 341 runs in the 2nd innings. Salman Butt scored a hundred and Inzamam contributed 72.

England needed 198 runs in the 4th innings to win this match. After losing Trescothik in 4th over, Ian Bell and Strauss put a good stand but Danish Kaneria trapped bell to bought Hosts in the game. England slipped from 67/1 to 117/7. Simon Jones took the charge and fought to take England close to the target but Akhter clean bowled Jones to break the final hope of the visitors. In the next two overs, Kaneria picked Udal and Akhter grabbed Harmison to secure Pakistan a memorable 22 runs victory to take 1-0 lead in the series.  

 

 

#4 Lord’s Test, 1992

1992 remains the most memorable year for Pakistan. It was the year when the Asian giants claimed their first and only ODI Cricket World Cup title in Australia. For Pakistan, 1992 is more about their significant victory against England at Lord’s cricket ground, London. The Lord’s 1992 Test story has an engaging plot and one more time, it was Imran Khan who had the final laugh. Fast bowlers were on their peak and two leg-spinners fought for the rivalry. England added a leg-break bowler Ian Salisbury for the Lord’s Test. Pakistan lost the ODI series by 4-1 but claimed the 5-matches Test series by 2-1. With the tremendous bowling effort from the Pakistani bowling unit, England collapsed in the first innings as they lost their last 6 wickets for 42. After the good start from Graham Gooch (69) and Alec Stewart (74), England was 213/4 but this collapse bowled them out on 255.

Waqar Yunis grabbed 5-wickets. Pakistan made a fluent start in the reply as their three top-order batsmen scored half-centuries. They also collapsed from 228/3 to 293 all out but they got 38 runs lead as well. The series of batting collapse continues with England’s 2nd innings as they bowled out on just 175 runs, losing 7 wickets for just 55 runs. Chasing the target of 138 runs, Pakistan was confident but English pacer Chris Lewis troubled the Pak top-order to 18/3. The debut player Salisbury got two wickets to put England on the driver’s seat. Inzamam-ul-Haq’s runout stunned Pakistan and they lost 8 wickets for 95 runs. Pakistan required 43 runs and the rest of the job done by Wasim Akram who scored vital 45 runs to put a match-winning partnership with Waqar Younis.

 

 

#5 Kennington Oval Test, 1954

Pakistan embarked their journey on its maiden tour of England and they lost the second Test of the series to trail by 1-0 in the series. They got their Test status in 1952 and played against the strongest side. In the final Test at Oval, the series was on stake. The rain saved the series defeat in the first and 3rd Test. In the first innings, Pakistan’s inexperienced batting unit shattered against the English pacers and Pakistan bowled out on just 133. 2nd day was washed out due to the rain and Pakistan made the good use of overcast condition to take three runs lead in the first innings to pack England on just 130. Fazal grabbed six and Hussain picked four for Pakistan.

The Pak skipper wanted at least 150 runs to defend in the 4th innings but Pakistan had collapsed to 63 for 4 at the end of day-03. Imtiaz Ahmed and Kardar tried to take the score forward but England pacers were in atop-form and set 8 Pakistani batsmen on 82. With the lead of just 85 runs and two wickets in hand, Pakistan was completely out of the contest. Wazir took the charge and added important runs with Hussain and last man Zulfiqar Ahmed. Wazir scored unbeaten 42 and Hussain contributed 43 to take Pakistan above 150. Pakistani innings bowled out on 164 and set a 167 runs total for England in 4th innings.

England looked pretty confident while chasing and crossed a hundred with losing just two wickets. The visitors were in the trouble but Pakistan is known for its unpredictability and Fazal removed Peter May (52) to give a breakthrough to Pakistan. England lost three wickets for just 8 runs to reach 116 for 5. Dennis Compton was also picked by Fazal and England lost its 6th wicket on 121. On the last day, England needed just 42 runs to win and Pakistan needed four wickets. Fazal was on top form and he picked 2-more to shatter England’s score. England fought hard but in the end, Pakistan clinched this historical thriller by 24 runs.