ENG vs PAK 2018: 2nd Test, Leeds, Match Review: England share series with Pakistan at 1-1

After the famous victory at Lord’s, Pakistan’s confidence was flying sky high, and hosts England had their task cut-out to level their series with 1-all, for their pride’s sake.

As a result, putting everything on the line, England had to come up with a clinical performance with the new ball, in the typical overcast conditions of Day 1 Headingley morning.

In a bold move, Pakistan won the toss and elected to bat first, and regretted the decision almost immediately, losing their openers, who scored two runs in total.

It was Stuart Broad who blew away the openers with his probing line and length, coupled with the banana swing, a lethal opposition.

Haris Sohail and Asad Shafiq tried to offer some resistance for the second wicket before Chris Woakes chipped in with a couple of splendid wickets, utilizing the condition, to break a solid looking partnership.

From 49-2, the visitors were reduced to 113-8, in no time. James Anderson chipped in with three wickets during this phase, while debutant Sam Curran picked up his maiden wicket in Tests.

Had it not been the contributions from specialist bowlers Shadab Khan and Hasan Ali, Pakistan would not have reached the face-saving total of 174.

The lethal English trio of Anderson, Woakes and Broad ended up with three wickets each, while Shadab Khan displayed his utility with the bat with another entertaining 56, which came off just 52 deliveries.

What followed was a dodged effort from England’s batting unit. As many as nine out of the eleven players registered a double-digit score, starred by Jos Buttler who continued to impress with his unbeaten 80 off 101 deliveries, consisting of eleven boundaries and a couple of sixes.

England managed to seize a thumping lead of 189 runs in the first innings, after posting a 363, with handy contributions from Cook, Root and Dominic Bess.

After being able to survive just 48 overs in the first innings, not much was expected out of the visitors against the deadly English trio, at their favourite hunting ground.

Pakistan was bundled out for a paltry score of 134, able to survive only 46 overs, decapitating in front of Stuart Broad and Dominic Bess, who claimed three wickets each.

In contrast to the reply from England, only three Pakistani players were able to reach double digits. During the course of his six-wicket haul in the match, Broad continued to climb up the ladder amongst the leading wicket-taker in Tests.

Additionally, with his tally of 417 wickets, he surpassed the Sultan of Swing, Wasim Akram, on his birthday, along with Sri Lankan spin-wizard Rangana Herath.

The Englishman equalled Harbhajan Singh in the tally of Test wickets and it is now only a matter of time before he surpasses South African greats, Dale Steyn and Shaun Pollock.

In the end, it was a clinical performance from England as they tie the two-match Test series, with the innings and 55- run win.

Finally, Jos Buttler walked away with the man of the match title while Mohammad Abbas bagged the man of the series title after his 10 wickets in the two matches.

Brief Scores

Pakistan 1st Innings 174-10 (48.1);

Shadab Khan 56(52), James Anderson 3/43, Stuart Broad 3/38

England 1st Innings 363-10 (106.2)

Jos Buttler 80(101), Faheem Ashraf 3/60,

Pakistan 2nd Innings 134-10 (46)

Imam-ul-Haq 34(64), Stuart Broad 3/28, Dominic Bess 3/33

England win by an innings and 55 runs