LAHORE (Ali Zain) – Pakistan on Sunday beat England by 75 runs registering its 127th Test victory at the historic stadium of the Lord’s -also known as the home of cricket.
Star leg-spinner Yasir Shah, who is the quickest bowler to pick 86 Test wickets in just 13 matches, was declared “Player of the Match” for his outstanding performance.
The Sunday’s victory was not only Pakistan’s remarkable start of the four-match Test series against the hosts, but it also had so many other reasons for celebrations. Few of them are:
1- Victory at Lord’s
On Sunday Pakistan completed its 4th Test victory at London’s Lord’s stadium and that too after a gap of 20 years. Last time Pakistan had defeated England by 164 runs in July 1996. Then, fast bowler Wasim Akram was leading the Pakistani side while Waqar was given Player of the Match award for 8 wickets in the match.
Watch the highlights from Lord’s where Pakistan won the First #InvestecTest #EngvPak https://t.co/CeSmWVwiL8
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) July 17, 2016
Then, fast bowler Wasim Akram was leading the Pakistani side while Waqar was given Player of the Match award for 8 wickets in the match.
2- Misbah – the oldest Test centurion
Pakistani skipper Misbah-ul-Haq hammered his career’s 10th Test century in the first inning of the Lord’s match. This achievement made also him the oldest Test centurion in last 82 years.
Have you ever seen a celebration like this?! #EngvPak https://t.co/bbGH9lfMpG
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) July 14, 2016
As a result, he became first Pakistani to get his name engraved at the Honour Boards of Lord’s in last ten years. Last time, it was Mohammad Yousuf who earned the distinction in July 2006.
3- Yasir Shah’s 10 wickets
The outstanding leg spinner, Yasir Shah, who also has legendary bowler Shane Warne among his fans, picked 10 wickets in his debut match at the Lord’s. He completed the five-wicket haul in the innings and clinched four another wickets in the second innings making his career’s best performance.
The five-wicket haul booked space for Yasir Shah’s name of the Honour Board’s of the Lord’s (a distinction even great Shane Warne could not achieve). He also became first leg spinner to complete five-wicket haul at Lord’s after 20 years.
That’s ten in the match for the excellent Shah. #EngvPak https://t.co/cl843I7a1r
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) July 17, 2016
Moreover, his extraordinary performance is an indication that Yasir Shah could break the quickest 100 Test wickets record as well. He has earned 86 wickets in 13 matches and requires 16 wickets in two matches to break the record.
Previously, England’s GA Lohmann had completed 100 Test wickets in 16 Test matches nine years ago.
4- Amir’s Test return
In the Lord’s test fast bowler Muhammad Amir also marked his return to Test cricket (just realising the famous proverb: to begin from where he left) after the 2010’s notorious match-fixing scandal. Interestingly, the scandal was also reported during the 2010 Pakistan vs England Test match at the same stadium.
Amir takes the final wicket to fall. #EngvPak https://t.co/mzI1zN3gUr
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) July 17, 2016
Although the English media attempted to create an unnecessary hype over possible fans’ reaction to Amir’s return to the Lord’s, there was no undesired happening. He picked three wickets in the match, including the winning wicket on Sunday -which apparently marked his rebirth as a cricketer.
5- Pakistani celebrations at Lord’s
The way Pakistani cricket team celebrated their performance at the Lord’s was also matchless. Misbah started it (ten pushups and a salute) with his century in the first innings. And after winning the match, the whole team joined him for five pushups, one jump and a salute.
Fair play to @TheRealPCB who played some excellent cricket and good celebrations too. #EngvPak https://t.co/czkHg2bFsu
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) July 17, 2016
The team players said that it was a tribute to the trainers of Pakistan Army who managed a training camp for them at Pakistan Military Academy, Abbottabad, before England tour.
