World Test Championship Points Table: England Thrash Pakistan To Close Gap On India, Australia
Published - 09 Aug 2020, 01:01 AM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 10:18 AM
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Riding on Jos Buttler and Chris Woakes’ stunning fifties, England beat Pakistan by three wickets in the first Test to take the lead in the three-match series. The game looked all but over for England after they were reduced to 117 for 5 before Buttler and Woakes joined hands to rescue the hosts.
Chasing 277, England were all out for. After Rory Burns failed to get going once again, Dom Sibley and Joe Root took England to 55 for 1 at lunch. Both the players started cautiously to negate the Pakistan pacers. They added 31 more runs after lunch before Yasir Shah broke the dangerous partnership by sending back Sibley for 36.
The breakthrough triggered a collapse as England lost 5 wickets in quick succession to find themselves reeling at 117 for 5. Naseem Shah sent back Root for 42 before Ben Stokes and Ollie Pope departed too.
But just when it looked like Pakistan would run away with the match, Jos Buttler and Chris Woakes brought the chase back on track with an impressive stand. They added 50 runs in quick time to take England to 167 for 5 at tea. The two started in attacking fashion after tea too as they took the attack to the visitors.
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In no time, England crossed the 200-run mark as both Buttler and Woakes reached their fifties. Buttler reached his fifty off just 55 balls while Woakes took 59 deliveries for the same. When Pakistan finally managed to break the stand, England needed only 21 runs.
Shah broke the 139-run stand by sending back Buttler for 75. England later lost Stuart Broad too but Woakes, who remained unbeaten on 84, made sure to take England over the line without much drama.
Earlier in the day, Pakistan stretched their lead to 169 before being all out. Yasir Shah struck a quickfire 33 off 24 balls to help his side cross the 150-run mark. Starting the day on 137 for 8, Pakistan managed to score 32 runs off just 16 balls in the morning session.
World Test Championship points table:
With the win, England have further bolstered the third spot in the ICC World Test Championship points table and have also closed the gaps with first-placed India and second-placed Australia. England are third with 266 points and can leapfrog Australia if they win the next Test. On the other hand, Pakistan are routed at fifth spot with 140 points.
Here is the updated ICC World Test Championship Points Table:
| Rank | Team | Series Played | Matches Played | Matches Won | Matches Tied | Matches Drawn | Matches Lost | Points |
| 1 | India | 4 | 9 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 360 |
| 2 | Australia | 3 | 10 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 296 |
| 3 | England | 4* | 12 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 266 |
| 4 | New Zealand | 3 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 180 |
| 5 | Pakistan | 3* | 6 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 140 |
| 6 | Sri Lanka | 2 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 80 |
| 7 | West Indies | 2 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 40 |
| 8 | South Africa | 2 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 24 |
| 9 | Bangladesh | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
