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ENG vs PAK: Twitter Reacts As England Thrash Pakistan To Square Series

By Prince

Updated - 03 Jun 2018, 11:28 PM

Credits: Getty

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England thrashed Pakistan by an innings and 55 runs inside three days in the second Test at Headingley to square the two-match Test series. The hosts had their back against the wall before the game started. They had suffered a crushing 9-wicket loss in the opener at Lord’s. England were in danger of losing their third successive Test series and first home series defeat to Pakistan this century.

However, Joe Root & Co. bounced back strongly and came up with a clinical effort to dismantle the visitors. Barring the toss almost everything went England’s way in the game. The writing was very much clear when the hosts took a massive 189 runs lead in the first innings. Pakistan had their task cut out with the bat but they failed miserably and thus missed a good chance to register a historic series win.

Pakistan began the day needing the last three English wickets as soon as possible to stop the hosts from running away with the game. They managed to get rid of debutant Sam Curran. However, Jos Buttler shifted gears to put the visitors on the backfoot again. With Mohammad Amir taken out of the attack due to his constant struggles with the shoulder, Buttler tore into the rest of the pack. The hard-hitting batsman reached his fifty with a four and a six off successive deliveries.

Credits: Getty

The visitors then had something to cheer about when Faheem Ashraf sent back Stuart Broad cheaply. However, Buttler continued to attack to take the lead well past 150. With every passing ball, he was edging closer to a well-deserved century. However, Hasan Ali ended those hopes by dismissing James Anderson, leaving Buttler stranded on 80.

Pakistan started the proceedings on a positive note, collecting 10 runs off the opening over. But that was not the precursor of the things that were to follow. James Anderson gave the hosts the first breakthrough by castling Azhar Ali with the scoreboard reading just 20.

Credits: Getty

The veteran pacer then had another one in his kitty when Dominic Bess dived full length at mid-off to take a stunner to send Haris Sohail back. Pakistan were then handed a massive blow before the break when Broad bowled one on the leg side that took Asad Shafiq’s glove before being pouched by Jonny Bairstow. Initially given not out, Joe Root decided to challenge the decision after resisting on a few occasions earlier. The replays confirmed the glove and Pakistan found themselves reeling at 42 for 3.

Imam-ul-Haq and debutant Usman Salahuddin tried to resurrect things but could not fight for long. The duo added 42 runs for the fourth wicket before Bess sent back Imam. 13 runs later,  Chris Woakes had Pakistan skipper Sarfraz Ahmed to all but seal the visitors’ fate. Pakistan kept on losing wickets at regular intervals and were eventually all out for 134.

Here is how Twitter reacted to the match:

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