Pakistan lord over England

London, July 17 

Yasir Shah marked his first Test outside of Asia and the United Arab Emirates by taking 10 wickets in the match as Pakistan beat England by 75 runs in their series opener at Lord’s on Sunday. Leg-spinner Shah took 10/141, including a second-innings haul of 4/69 on Sunday.

His figures, which surpassed Waqar Younis’s Test-match best for Pakistan at Lord’s of 8/ 154, was central to the tourists going 1-0 up in this four-match series.

Victory prompted the whole Pakistan team to perform several press-ups in front of the Lord’s pavilion — a reference to their pre-tour military boot camp. England, set 283 for victory, were all out for 207. They were holding firm at 195/6, thanks to a determined stand of 56 between Jonny Bairstow (48) and Chris Woakes (23). But Bairstow’s three-and-a-half hour innings ended when he was bowled trying to whip a Shah leg-break.

England were soon 196/8 when left-arm quick Amir bowled Stuart Broad. Shah then had Woakes, who took 11 wickets in the match, caught at slip before Amir ended the contest. It was unheralded left-arm quick Rahat Ali who removed England’s top three to reduce the hosts to 47/3.

Brief scores:  Pakistan 339; 215 (Shafiq 49, Sarfraz 45, Woakes 5/32); England 272; 207 (Bairstow 48, Yasir 4/69, Rahat 3/47). — AFP