‘They are no match for this English side’- Fans react as England beat Pakistan by 26 runs to seal series 2-0
Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum’s team have done it again. England’s new, aggressive approach toward Test Cricket continues to impress the entire cricketing fraternity. On Monday, the England Cricket Team registered their 8th win out of their last 9 Test matches.
With that win, they also sealed the three-match Test series against Pakistan by a 2-0 margin. Ben Stokes and Co. produced another result as they beat Pakistan by 26 runs in the second Test match at Multan Cricket Stadium.
England had set a target of 355 runs for Pakistan on day 3 to win the second Test match. M Rizwan and Abdullah Shafique started brilliantly with a 66-run opening partnership.
Veteran James Anderson then came to the team’s rescue as he bowled one absolute peach of a delivery to send Rizwan (45) back to the hut. Skipper, Babar Azam (1) also departed cheaply. Mark Wood, soon, rattled Shafique’s stumps in the 29th over to leave Pakistan in some sort of trouble at 83 for 3.
Imam Ul Haq then stitched a brilliant 108-run partnership to revive the team’s innings. However, Leach accounted for Imam’s wicket at the fag end of the day to put England on top.
Faheem Ashraf and Shakeel looked to start cautiously on the fourth day but Root broke the partnership soon by accounting for the wicket of Ashraf (10) in the 70th over. Nawaz and Shakeel, then, forged an 80-run alliance for the 6th wicket. That partnership gave Pakistan big hopes of winning the Test match.
But, Mark Wood came to the team’s rescue. He dug one short only for Nawaz to get caught behind. The southpaw departed for a well-made 45 off 62 balls.
England looked happy but Shakeel was still there at the crease. The big turning point came in the 94th over when Wood came back to bowl again.
On the third ball of the over, Wood sent Shakeel back, although that dismissal was debatable. Once he got, it was all but over for Pakistan. Babar Azam’s team, eventually, were bundled out for 328, thereby falling 26 runs short of the target.
Twitter has been abuzz, since. Here’s a look at some of the reactions:
If this is out, I'm Shah Rukh Khan!#PAKvENG pic.twitter.com/PtzGtbtSuN
— Farid Khan (@_FaridKhan) December 12, 2022
*Pakistan fans having some little hopes in their hearts*
Aleem Dar: #PAKvENG pic.twitter.com/JYdsEz6bBO— 𝓢𝓮𝓱𝓻𝓲𝓼𝓱 🇵🇰 (@itsmeSehrish) December 12, 2022
England believe they can win from any situation, Pakistan believe they can lose from any situation. #PAKvENG
— Sushant Mehta (@SushantNMehta) December 12, 2022
Message to future generations: never let Test cricket die.#PAKvENG pic.twitter.com/aAKXZQ842Y
— CricBlog ✍ (@cric_blog) December 5, 2022
This photo is forever saved in test history. #PAKvENG pic.twitter.com/5KWbfoIhAc
— Chaudhary Ali Hamza (@iamalihamxa) December 5, 2022
Saud Shakeel was not out there, he has been deprived of a match-winning fourth innings century too. #PAKvENG
— Farid Khan (@_FaridKhan) December 12, 2022
Joel Wilson's credibility questioned as an elite umpire on controversial decision 😕#PAKvENG #cricket pic.twitter.com/8QmTxLBaBK
— Cricket Pakistan (@cricketpakcompk) December 12, 2022
HISTORY by England!
Well done Stokes & co…#PAKvsENG pic.twitter.com/9Q6JMDMVp4
— DK (@DineshKarthik) December 12, 2022
@ECB_cricket well played lads what a series win 👏🏻👏🏻 @MAWood33 outstanding #PAKvsENG
— Alex Whitfield (@AlexWhitfield10) December 12, 2022
abhi depression ma hain hm#PAKvsENG
— Uma!r𖤐💥 (@umairarshad014) December 12, 2022
Jeeta Huwa Match h Harty Ha Har Bar Lekin Har Bar Defend Ni Kia Ja Skta Inki Performance Ko..
Shame on you @TheRealPCB #PAKvsENG #PAKvENG #PakvsEng2022 #PakistanCricket— Hasnain Haider (@wickednaini) December 12, 2022
Pakistan are no match for this English side, T20 Series, T20 world cup final, and now the Test series. #PakvsEng2022 #PAKvsENG
— Aehsan (@_Feardablack) December 12, 2022