England’s stand-in captain, Ollie Pope has rated the win over Pakistan on Friday among the top three victories his team has achieved since Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum took charge of the Test side in 2021.
“Definitely it is a special win for us... I would rate it among the top three alongside our wins in Rawalpindi (2022) and this year in Hyderabad in India (since McCullum brought in the Bazball brand),” Pope said.
England had several Test records when it amassed 823/7 declared on the back of Harry Brook’s belligerent triple century and Joe Root’s impeccable 262 in reply to Pakistan’s first innings score of 556.
The hosts folded for 220 in the second essay as England sercured an innings and 47-run win on the final day of the Test.
Pakistan are now the first team to lose a Test match by an innings despite scoring 500-plus in an innings. The previous highest total to end up in an innings defeat was 492 by Ireland against Sri Lanka in Galle in 2023.
Salman Ali Agha (63) and Aamer Jamal (55 not out) delayed the inevitable with their fighting half centuries. Abrar Ahmed couldn’t bat due to fever.
Left-arm spinner Jack Leach picked up all the three wickets on the final morning to finish with 4-30 after fast bowlers Gus Atkinson and debutant Brydon Carse had mopped the Pakistan top-order on the fourth evening.
Pope said his team’s mantra was now that no one in the dressing room thought about the end result in a match and they tried to do their best each day.
Written with PTI inputs
