England batsman Joe Root batted left-handed during the first Test against Pakistan on Sunday. Taking full advantage of batting-friendly conditions in Rawalpindi, Root switched to a southpaw mode as he batted against right arm spinner Zahid Mahmood for the first two deliveries of his sixth over. Root swept the ball one to square leg, but was dropped mid-wicket on the next ball by Naseem Shah. The batter quickly abandoned the idea and reverted to his right-handed batting stance, but was dismissed for 73 by Mahmood after being caught by Imam-ul-Haq.
Joe Root decides to bat left-handed #PAKvENG | #UKSePK pic.twitter.com/GOvnkof54B
— Pakistani Cricket (@TheRealPCB) December 4, 2022
Going into the match, Pakistan set a target of 343 runs to win. At the end of Day 4, Pakistan is 80/2, with Imam-ul-Haq (43*) and Saud Shakeel (24*) in the fold.
England declared their innings at 264/7 in 35.5 overs in their second innings. Harry Brook scored 87 off 65 balls, with 11 fours and three sixes. Joe Root (73) and Zak Crawley (50) also scored in the fifties. This gave England a 342-run lead in the game, with the hosts aiming for 343 points.
Naseem Shah, Mohammad Ali and Zahid Mahmood took two wickets. Agha Salman got a wicket each.
In their first innings, Pakistan were bowled out for 579, in reply to England’s score of 657 in the first innings. They were trailing the game by 78 points at the time.
Babar Azam (136) scored a brilliant barrel, with openers Imam-ul-Haq (121) and Abdullah Shafique (114). Will Jacks (6/161) was fantastic for England with the ball. Jack Leach took two scalps while James Anderson and Ollie Robinson took one wicket each.
England posted 657 in their first innings. The visitors took full advantage of the batting friendly conditions and Crawley (122), Ben Duckett (107), Ollie Pope (108) and Harry Brook (153) posted tons.
Zahid Mahmood (4/235) and Naseem Shah (3/140) were the bowlers’ favorites for Pakistan. Ali took two while Haris Rauf also got a wicket.
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