Shahid Afridi Returns Backs To Pakistan Leaving LPL 2020 In Midway
Shahid Afridi. Image Credit: Twitter.

England cricketers Jos Buttler and Chris Woakes‘ wonderful partnership became the nightmare for Azhar Ali-led Pakistan Test team in the first Test match in Manchester. Pakistan were the predicted winners but England has always bamboozled the oppositions. They chase down the 277 runs target in the fourth innings which was deemed to be tough to get at a pitch like Old Trafford. But Joe Root-led England set the examples of making impossible possible and so they did on the fourth day. 

Notably, Buttler and Woakes had struggled to score runs in the last month Test series against West Indies. Also, in the first innings against Pakistan, they can not do much with the bat. The wicketkeeper-batsman Jos Buttler had also a forgettable experience behind the stumps, leaving two crucial catches and one stumping. He left the catch of Shan Massod at 46 who went on to score 156 runs. On the other hand, allrounder Chris Woakes had performed amazingly with the ball but had failed to even touch 20 runs mark in his last four Test innings. Nevertheless, on the fourth day of the Test match, the duo got under the skin of Pakistan’s bowler.

Jos Buttler, Chris Woakes
Jos Buttler and Chris Woakes. Image Credit: Getty Images.

In the second session, England were battling at 117 for five. The visitors had almost the game in their hand because they had got the wicket of Joe Root, Ben Stokes and Ollie Pope. But who knew that Jos Buttler and Chris Woakes were yet to show their best skills. 

Pakistan’s unfortunate loss:

Captain Azhar Ali. (Credits – Twitter)

Pakistan could not control runs because of their lousy fielding and failing to capitalise on the opportunities. They had two times missed the catch of Buttler. However, finally, spin bowler Yasir Shah gave breakthroughs to the team. He broke the 139-runs partnership of Buttler and Woakes, picking the wicket of the wicketkeeper-batsman at 75 runs (seven fours and one six). But it was too late. The host needed only 21 runs to win that match. Woakes scored most of those match-winning runs and remained not out on 84 runs, guiding his team to unbelievable victory. 

The Green Army lost the deserving match by three wickets. Their defeat had not only stunned them but the former great cricketers Shahid Afridi, Michael Vaughan and Mohammad Yousuf. 

Here is the reaction of former cricketers on Pakistan’s defeat: 

Michael Vaughan. Image Credit: Twitter.

Shahid Afridi, who had earlier posted the picture of him enjoying watching the game, was also disappointed with Pakistan’s bowling attack. He said that ‘such opportunities can not be wasted’. 

Former England captain Michael Vaughan was amazed to see his countrymen getting the lead in the three-match Test series. 

Meanwhile, the second match of the series will be played at Southampton from 13th August.