Pakistan thrilled one and all in their first Test at Lord’s since 2010, giving their fans the experience of a lifetime
Fram Hansotia18-Jul-2016Choice of game
I was extremely keen to watch Pakistan, and Mohammad Amir, return to Lord’s six years after the 2010 Test was clouded by controversy. Resuming at 214 for 8 on day four, the significant Pakistani contingent at Lord’s hoped the tailenders would flay the English bowlers around on Sunday morning, setting up an insurmountable target in the process. However, the tail rolled over in ten minutes, setting up a much-edgier chase of 283 instead.Team supported
As an optimistic Pakistani, I hoped to watch the English batsmen succumb to our bowling by the end of day four.Key performer
Rahat Ali’s spell of 3 for 36 off eight overs prevented England’s top order from setting up a solid base for the middle order to capitalise on. Two hundred and eighty-three was not an impossible target, but it was widely acknowledged that in order for England to win, Alastair Cook or Joe Root needed to play a big innings. It was Rahat, the least-lauded member of the Pakistani attack, who produced the goods when Amir, Wahab Riaz, and Yasir Shah were relatively ineffective. A match-winning spell.Crowd favourite
Yasir Shah’s figures of 4 for 69 in the second innings, and 10 for 141 in the Test might lead one to assume that the pitch aided spin. That was not the case. On a frustrating day where Yasir found it difficult to repeat his first-innings success, he toiled tirelessly for 31 overs on a pitch that offered very little support. 79% of the balls he bowled were dot balls, evidence of his ability to maintain his accuracy and build pressure across long spells. Yasir’s most endearing quality is the spirit he plays the game in. Whether he has just beaten the bat, or been hit for six, he will look down the wicket with the same grin on his face, making him a firm crowd favourite.One thing I would have changed
Despite Pakistan’s success, my main frustration was that the slip cordon did not recognise that the ball was not carrying to them regularly. It seemed like countless chances fell short, yet they did not have the presence of mind to adapt and move closer to the batsman. Yes, this would have marginally reduced their reaction time if the batsman edged the ball, but it would have increased the opportunity to take wickets. I believe that doing so may have resulted in more wickets during the extremely frustrating, tedious period of play after lunch.Face off I relished
I had hoped for a competitive, high-quality contest between Cook and Root and Amir and Yasir. Unfortunately, both Amir and Yasir were rather ineffective against the top order, with Rahat eventually accounting for the pair.Wow Moment
The Pakistani celebrations at the fall of the final wicket are what will remain etched in the memory of all those watching, especially those lucky enough to be present. With the fifth ball of the 76th over of the England second innings, Amir penetrated Jake Ball’s defences, sealing Pakistan’s first Test victory at Lord’s in 20 years. He spread his arms in celebration and was mobbed by his team-mates; Lord’s, the ground where Amir was an 18-year-old co-conspirator in the spot-fixing scandal that plunged Pakistan cricket to its lowest depths. It seemed fitting that Amir took the wicket that provided so much joy, just six years after being at the centrestage of one of the biggest controversies to rock cricket. He has been reintegrated into the national team, and seems to be slowly getting back to the level he used to perform at. The team is talented, united, and has a good leader. It is an exciting time to be a Pakistani cricket fan!Shot of the day
In a game that ebbed and flowed, the first ball of Rahat’s second and third overs could not have been more different. The former accounted for Cook, while Root drilled the latter through the covers to inject urgency into England’s innings. The delivery was just short of a length and a fraction outside the off stump. Root met it on the up with the full face of his bat, and bisected the fielders with a flick of his wrists. In the midst of a disappointing innings, it was a timely reminder of his talent.Crowd meter
As always, the crowd at Lord’s was knowledgeable and respectful, particularly to Amir. Being a Sunday, the ground seemed to be close to capacity, with a large pockets of Pakistani fans spread across the stands. The Pakistani contingent galvanised the team with regular chants of , particularly when Jonny Bairstow and Chris Woakes’ 56-run partnership brought the target down to below 100, and gave England a glimpse of the finish line.Towards the end of the match, with the result all but confirmed, there was a bit of gallows humour. A boundary struck by Steve Finn led him to be heralded as the “Greatest Batsman Ever” by a group of English fans, determined not to let the inexplicable failure to bat out the day ruin their Sunday.Overall
The collapse of the Pakistani tail, an excellent spell of fast bowling by Rahat Ali, the resistance of the English middle and lower order, and the eventual success of the Pakistani bowling unit all contributed to a day of Test cricket that swung from a period of attrition to a thrilling conclusion. Pakistan won by a convincing margin, Yasir Shah took ten wickets, and the team’s celebrations were as hilarious as they were heart-warming.Marks out of 10
9.5
