London: Pakistan completed a dominating nine-wicket victory over England to win the first Test with more than a day to spare and take a 1-0 lead in the two-match Test series here at Lords, Sunday.
Resuming the day on 235 for six in their second innings England lost their last four wickets for just seven runs in 18 balls to be eventually bowled out for 242. Pacers Mohammad Amir (4/36) and Mohammad Abbas (4/41) shared the last four wickets between them.
Needing just 64 runs for victory, Pakistan overhauled the target in 12.4 overs before lunch losing only the wicket of Azhar Ali (four). Haris Sohail (39 n o) and Imam-ul-Haq was (18 n o) were the scorers.
Earlier, England were undone by two top-order batting collapses slumping to 184 all out and declining to 160 for the loss of six wickets in their second before half centuries from Jos Buttler (67, 138b, 6×4) and Test debutant Dominic Bess (57, 106b, 8×4) prevented an innings defeat.
Skipper Joe Root (68, 120b, 8×4) was the only other batsman to score a fifty while seven of their batsmen failed to reach beyond the 10-run mark. This was England’s seventh loss in 10 Tests matches and their first under new national selector Ed Smith. Abbas was adjudged the man of the match. The second Test begins June 1 at Leeds.
Brief scores: England 184 & 242 (Jos Buttler 67, Dominic Bess 57; Mohammad Amir 4/36, Mohammad Abbas 4/41) lost to Pakistan 363 & 66/1 (Haris Sohail 39 n o) by nine wickets.
