Cricket is more than just a game for fans in Pakistan National Cricket Team vs England Cricket Team Match Scorecard—it’s a passion that brings people together, young and old, to cheer for their heroes. The recent Test match between the Pakistan National Cricket Team vs England Cricket Team Match Scorecard, held at Multan Cricket Stadium from October 7 to 11, 2024, was a classic example of why this sport captivates millions. It was a rollercoaster of runs, wickets, and unforgettable moments. Let’s dive into the scorecard of this 1st Test match, break it down in a way that’s easy to understand, and relive the excitement of this epic clash. Whether you’re a lifelong cricket fan or someone just getting into the game, this article will walk you through every key moment with a human touch, like chatting about the match over a cup of tea.
The Setting: Multan Cricket Stadium
The Multan Cricket Stadium, known for its batting-friendly pitches, set the stage for this five-day battle. Pakistan won the toss and chose to bat first, a decision that promised a run-fest given the pitch’s reputation. England, led by Ollie Pope in this match, came prepared with a mix of pace and spin to challenge the hosts. The match was part of the England tour of Pakistan 2024/25, and both teams were eager to make a statement in this opening Test.
Pakistan’s First Innings: A Strong Start
Pakistan’s batting lineup took to the crease with confidence. The opening pair of Abdullah Shafique and Saim Ayub got things rolling, but Ayub fell early for just 4 runs, caught by England’s wicketkeeper Jamie Smith off Gus Atkinson’s bowling. This brought captain Shan Masood to the crease, and what followed was a masterclass in batting.
Masood and Shafique built a massive 253-run partnership for the second wicket, setting a solid foundation. Shafique scored a steady 102 runs off 184 balls, with 10 fours and 2 sixes, showing patience and flair. Masood, the captain, led from the front with a brilliant 151 runs off 177 balls, smashing 13 fours and 2 sixes. Their partnership was a joy to watch, with crisp drives, elegant cover shots, and the occasional lofted cover drive that had the crowd roaring.
However, England fought back. Jack Leach dismissed Masood, and soon after, Shafique fell to Atkinson. Babar Azam, Pakistan’s star batter, struggled to find his rhythm, scoring 30 runs before being trapped lbw by Chris Woakes. Saud Shakeel anchored the middle order with a gritty 82, while Salman Agha played a sensational unbeaten 104 off 119 balls, including 10 fours and 3 sixes. Contributions from Naseem Shah (33) and Shaheen Shah Afridi (26) helped Pakistan reach a formidable 556 all out in 149 overs.
England’s bowlers toiled hard. Jack Leach was the pick, taking 3 wickets for 160 runs, while Gus Atkinson and Brydon Carse grabbed 2 wickets each. The new ball, taken after 81 overs, gave England some breakthroughs, but Pakistan’s total was daunting.
England’s First Innings: A Run-Fest Led by Brook and Root
England’s response was nothing short of spectacular. Their openers, Zak Crawley and Ollie Pope, started cautiously, but Pope fell for a duck, caught off Naseem Shah’s bowling. Crawley looked solid, scoring 78 runs with 13 fours, before Shaheen Shah Afridi dismissed him. Ben Duckett played an aggressive 84 off 75 balls, forming a 136-run partnership with Joe Root for the third wicket.
Then came the show-stealers: Joe Root and Harry Brook. Root, the ever-reliable former captain, batted for over 600 minutes to score a monumental 262 runs off 375 balls, with 17 fours. His innings was a masterclass in Test cricket batting—calm, composed, and relentless. Harry Brook, on the other hand, went into overdrive, smashing 317 runs off 322 balls, including 29 fours and 3 sixes. His triple-century was a historic moment, making him the Player of the Match. Their 454-run partnership for the fourth wicket crushed Pakistan’s hopes of dominating the game.
England declared at 823 for 7 after 150 overs, with contributions from Jamie Smith (31) and Chris Woakes (17 not out). Pakistan’s bowlers struggled on the flat pitch, with Saim Ayub (2 wickets) and Naseem Shah (2 wickets) being the most effective. Shaheen Shah Afridi and Aamer Jamal picked up one wicket each, but the spinners, including Abrar Ahmed, were expensive.
Pakistan’s Second Innings: A Collapse Under Pressure
Chasing a massive deficit of 267 runs, Pakistan needed a miracle to save the match. Unfortunately, their second innings started disastrously. Abdullah Shafique was bowled by Chris Woakes for a duck on the first ball. Shan Masood (11) and Babar Azam (5) fell cheaply to Gus Atkinson, leaving Pakistan at 41 for 3. Saim Ayub showed some fight with 25 runs, but Brydon Carse dismissed him, triggering a collapse.
Saud Shakeel (29) and Mohammad Rizwan (10) couldn’t convert their starts, and it was left to Salman Agha (63) and Aamer Jamal (55 not out) to provide resistance. Their 109-run partnership for the seventh wicket gave Pakistan some hope, but Jack Leach’s spin proved too much. Leach took 4 wickets for 30 runs, including the scalps of Shakeel, Agha, Shaheen Afridi, and Naseem Shah. Abrar Ahmed was absent hurt, and Pakistan were bowled out for 220 in 54.5 overs.
England’s bowlers were disciplined, with Carse and Atkinson taking 2 wickets each and Woakes chipping in with one. The spinners, particularly Leach, exploited the turning pitch to wrap up the innings.
The Result: England’s Dominance
England won by an innings and 47 runs, a comprehensive victory that showcased their batting depth and bowling discipline. Harry Brook’s triple-century and Joe Root’s double-century were the highlights, while Jack Leach’s spin bowling in the second innings sealed the deal. Pakistan fought hard, especially in their first innings, but couldn’t match England’s firepower.
Full Pakistan National Cricket Team vs England Cricket Team Match Scorecard Table
Here’s the complete scorecard, laid out clearly so you can see every detail of this thrilling match:
Team |
Innings |
Batter |
Dismissal |
Runs |
Balls |
4s |
6s |
SR |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Pakistan 1st Innings |
||||||||
Abdullah Shafique |
c Pope b Atkinson |
102 | 184 | 10 | 2 | 55.43 | ||
Saim Ayub |
c Smith b Atkinson |
4 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 40.00 | ||
Shan Masood (c) |
c & b Leach |
151 | 177 | 13 | 2 | 85.31 | ||
Babar Azam |
lbw b Woakes |
30 | 71 | 5 | 0 | 42.25 | ||
Saud Shakeel |
c Root b Bashir |
82 | 177 | 8 | 0 | 46.32 | ||
Naseem Shah |
c Brook b Carse |
33 | 81 | 1 | 3 | 40.74 | ||
Mohammad Rizwan (wk) |
c Woakes b Leach |
0 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | ||
Salman Agha |
not out |
104 | 119 | 10 | 3 | 87.39 | ||
Aamer Jamal |
lbw b Carse |
7 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 70.00 | ||
Shaheen Shah Afridi |
b Leach |
26 | 49 | 2 | 1 | 53.06 | ||
Abrar Ahmed |
c Duckett b Root |
3 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 37.50 | ||
Extras |
(b 1, lb 4, nb 4, w 5) |
14 | ||||||
Total |
149 overs, RR: 3.73 |
556 all out |
||||||
Fall of Wickets |
8-1 (Ayub, 3.4), 261-2 (Shafique, 59.5), 263-3 (Masood, 62.3), 324-4 (Azam, 84.3), 388-5 (Shah, 105.4), 393-6 (Rizwan, 108.5), 450-7 (Shakeel, 125.2), 464-8 (Jamal, 128.4), 549-9 (Afridi, 145.5), 556-10 (Ahmed, 148.6) |
|||||||
Bowling |
O |
M |
R |
W |
Econ |
|||
Chris Woakes |
23 | 5 | 69 | 1 | 3.00 | |||
Gus Atkinson |
25 | 5 | 99 | 2 | 3.96 | |||
Brydon Carse |
22 | 3 | 74 | 2 | 3.36 | |||
Shoaib Bashir |
32 | 3 | 124 | 1 | 3.87 | |||
Jack Leach |
40 | 5 | 160 | 3 | 4.00 | |||
Joe Root |
7 | 0 | 25 | 1 | 3.57 | |||
England 1st Innings |
||||||||
Zak Crawley |
c Jamal b Afridi |
78 | 85 | 13 | 0 | 91.76 | ||
Ollie Pope (c) |
c Jamal b Shah |
0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | ||
Joe Root |
lbw b Agha |
262 | 375 | 17 | 0 | 69.86 | ||
Ben Duckett |
lbw b Jamal |
84 | 75 | 11 | 0 | 112.00 | ||
Harry Brook |
c Masood b Ayub |
317 | 322 | 29 | 3 | 98.44 | ||
Jamie Smith (wk) |
c Jamal b Shah |
31 | 24 | 2 | 1 | 129.16 | ||
Chris Woakes |
not out |
17 | 16 | 1 | 0 | 106.25 | ||
Gus Atkinson |
c Azam b Ayub |
2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 100.00 | ||
Brydon Carse |
not out |
9 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 150.00 | ||
Extras |
(b 8, lb 5, nb 7, w 3) |
23 | ||||||
Total |
150 overs, RR: 5.48 |
823/7d |
||||||
Did not bat |
Jack Leach, Shoaib Bashir |
|||||||
Fall of Wickets |
4-1 (Pope, 1.2), 113-2 (Crawley, 24.3), 249-3 (Duckett, 49.4), 703-4 (Root, 136.1), 779-5 (Smith, 144.2), 797-6 (Brook, 147.2), 799-7 (Atkinson, 147.4) |
|||||||
Bowling |
O |
M |
R |
W |
Econ |
|||
Shaheen Shah Afridi |
26 | 1 | 120 | 1 | 4.61 | |||
Naseem Shah |
31 | 0 | 157 | 2 | 5.06 | |||
Abrar Ahmed |
35 | 0 | 174 | 0 | 4.97 | |||
Aamer Jamal |
24 | 0 | 126 | 1 | 5.25 | |||
Salman Agha |
18 | 0 | 118 | 1 | 6.55 | |||
Saim Ayub |
14 | 0 | 101 | 2 | 7.21 | |||
Saud Shakeel |
2 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 7.00 | |||
Pakistan 2nd Innings |
||||||||
Abdullah Shafique |
b Woakes |
0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | ||
Saim Ayub |
c Duckett b Carse |
25 | 35 | 4 | 0 | 71.42 | ||
Shan Masood (c) |
c Crawley b Atkinson |
11 | 22 | 1 | 0 | 50.00 | ||
Babar Azam |
c Smith b Atkinson |
5 | 15 | 1 | 0 | 33.33 | ||
Saud Shakeel |
c Smith b Leach |
29 | 33 | 4 | 0 | 87.87 | ||
Mohammad Rizwan (wk) |
b Carse |
10 | 19 | 1 | 0 | 52.63 | ||
Salman Agha |
lbw b Leach |
63 | 84 | 7 | 0 | 75.00 | ||
Aamer Jamal |
not out |
55 | 104 | 5 | 0 | 52.88 | ||
Shaheen Shah Afridi |
c & b Leach |
10 | 14 | 1 | 0 | 71.42 | ||
Naseem Shah |
st Smith b Leach |
6 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 200.00 | ||
Abrar Ahmed |
absent hurt |
– | – | – | – | – | ||
Extras |
(b 4, lb 1, nb 1) |
6 | ||||||
Total |
54.5 overs, RR: 4.01 |
220 all out |
||||||
Fall of Wickets |
0-1 (Shafique, 0.1), 29-2 (Masood, 7.6), 41-3 (Azam, 11.6), 41-4 (Ayub, 12.1), 59-5 (Rizwan, 18.1), 82-6 (Shakeel, 24.2), 191-7 (Agha, 48.4), 214-8 (Afridi, 54.2), 220-9 (Shah, 54.5) |
|||||||
Bowling |
O |
M |
R |
W |
Econ |
|||
Chris Woakes |
12 | 1 | 41 | 1 | 3.41 | |||
Gus Atkinson |
14 | 2 | 46 | 2 | 3.28 | |||
Shoaib Bashir |
6 | 0 | 32 | 0 | 5.33 | |||
Brydon Carse |
16 | 1 | 66 | 2 | 4.12 | |||
Jack Leach |
6.5 | 1 | 30 | 4 | 4.39 |
Match Details:
-
Venue: Multan Cricket Stadium, Multan
-
Toss: Pakistan, elected to bat
-
Result: England won by an innings and 47 runs
-
Player of the Match: Harry Brook (England, 317 runs)
-
Umpires: Kumar Dharmasena (Sri Lanka), Sharfuddoula (Bangladesh), Chris Gaffaney (New Zealand, TV)
-
Match Referee: Richie Richardson (West Indies)
Key Moments and What They Mean
This match was a tale of two contrasting fortunes. Pakistan’s first innings showed their batting depth, with Masood, Shafique, and Agha shining brightly. But England’s response, led by Brook and Root, was a display of dominance rarely seen in Test cricket. Brook’s triple-century was a once-in-a-generation performance, and Root’s marathon innings reminded everyone why he’s one of the best in the world.
Pakistan’s second innings collapse highlighted their struggles against spin on a turning pitch. Jack Leach’s 4 wickets in the second innings were crucial, proving that England’s spinners could exploit conditions just as well as their batters. For Pakistan, the absence of Abrar Ahmed due to injury in the second innings was a blow, and their top order’s failure to fire put too much pressure on the lower order.
Why This Match Matters
For fans, this match was a reminder of Test cricket’s beauty—long, grinding battles, moments of individual brilliance, and dramatic turnarounds. For Pakistan, it was a wake-up call to address their batting frailties under pressure. For England, it was a statement of intent, showing they could dominate away from home on a pitch that suited batting.
Young fans might have been inspired by Harry Brook’s fearless batting, while older fans would appreciate Joe Root’s classic Test match grind. The match also showed how cricket can be unpredictable—Pakistan’s strong first innings gave them hope, but England’s relentless batting and sharp bowling turned the game on its head.
Looking Ahead
This was just the first Test of the series, and Pakistan would have been eager to bounce back in the next match. The second Test, also in Multan, saw Pakistan level the series with a 152-run victory, thanks to strong performances from their spinners Sajid Khan and Noman Ali. It’s a rivalry that keeps delivering, and fans can’t wait for more.