England’s left arm spinner Jack Leach, and off spinner Rehan Ahmed, delivered key performances with the ball this morning, as they were able to restrict Pakistan to 304 runs after their 50 overs.
After Pakistan won the toss and elected to bat first, their batsmen got off to a great start, with a 50 run partnership for the first wicket, courtesy of openers Ahmed Shehzad and Fakhar Zaman. However, Jack Leach was able to break the 2018 world cup final dream team’s momentum, as he took the wickets of both openers in quick succession and ended the innings of batsmen Haris Sohail, Usman Salahuddin, and Shadab Khan, as Pakistan’s score reached 178-6. Leach was the pick of the English bowlers, taking 5 wickets in 10 overs of bowling.
Rehan Ahmed, on the other hand, was the bowler to keep pressure on the Pakistani batsmen, while also taking the key wicket of Pakistan’s highest scorer Babar Azam, who scored 50 runs in 74 balls. Ahmed ended with figures of 3-45, as Pakistan’s score was restricted to 304-9 in their allotted 50 overs.
However, the day was not over yet. Abrar Ahmed, a young Pakistani batsman, made his test debut today and made an immediate impact with the bat, making a quick-fire 44 runs off just 31 balls and helping his side to a respectable total. His knock included five boundaries and two sixes, and was the highlight of Pakistan’s batting performance.
With 304 runs on the board, the Pakistani bowlers will have to deliver another outstanding performance against the English batsmen if they are to secure the win. With a full day of cricket left, it promises to be an exciting contest.
Pakistan Held Back by Jack Leach and Rehan Ahmed
Pakistan’s ambition of achieving a resounding total during the first test game between Pakistan and England was limited by England’s duo, Jack Leach and Rehan Ahmed.
Jack Leach’s Clinical Spell
Jack Leach, the English left-arm, bowler showed great accuracy throughout the game. He managed to contain the run-flow and claim 2 wickets in the process. His performance can be summarised as follows:
- Economy rate: 2.33
- Runs conceded: 39
- Wickets:2
Rehan Ahmed’s Valuable Contributions
Rehan Ahmed, in his test debut, claimed 2 important wickets to restrict Pakistan’s score.
- Economy rate: 3.83
- Runs conceded: 65
- Wickets:2
Pakistan were frustrated by the accuracy and effectiveness of these two bowlers, and eventually managed to score only 304 runs.
Abrar Ahmed’s Rescue Attempt
Abrar Ahmed’s counter-attack in the final over lifted the Pakistani spirit and they eventually managed to score 304 runs.
- Runs scored: 15
- Balls faced: 6
Abrar Ahmed’s innings may not have been enough to help the Pakistani team to a healthy total, but it was a fantastic performance that reminded the Pakistani team what was possible against the formidable English bowling attack.
