The historic Pakistan vs England Test series finally got underway on Thursday at Rawalpindi. There was unsurety on the start of the Test as the England camp got hit by an unknown virus one day ahead of the Test. However, the English team recovered in time and fielded a fully fit eleven on their first Test on the Pakistan soil in 17 years.
England captain Ben Stokes called it correctly at the toss and elected to bat first. The openers Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett walked out to the middle to give a solid start to their team. The duo looked in fine touch as they started their innings positively. While Duckett took some time early on to get into the groove, Crawley took the attack on the Pakistan bowling after setting his eye in.
The duo brought up the 100-run partnership in the fourteenth over. Crawley brought up his hundred in the second over post-lunch off just 86 balls while Duckett reached the three-figure mark in the 35th over of the day as the opening stand extended to over 200. Pakistan tasted their first success as debutant Zahid Mahmood picked his first Test wicket and trapped Duckett in front of the stumps dismissing him for 107 with England losing their first wicket on 233.
Crawley followed Duckett just two overs later giving Pakistan their second wicket on 235. Joe Root also perished quickly departing for just 23 giving Zahid Mahmood his second wicket of the match. After quick fall of wickets, Harry Brook and Ollie Pope got together at the crease and built another huge partnership.
Pope started his innings on a positive note and found boundaries on regular occasions throughout his innings. Harry Brook started his innings cautiously and unleashed his beast mode on the opposition after getting settled. The duo added 176 runs for the fifth wicket as Olly Pope became the third centurion of the day in the 66th over. However, he couldn’t continue his innings and was dismissed by debutant Mohammad Ali for 108.
England smash record books on Day 1 of Pakistan vs England 1st Test
Pope’s dismissal brought captain Ben Stokes to the crease who was in no mood to settle down and launched the attack on the Pakistan bowling right from the word go.
Harry Brook continued his brilliant knock at the other end and became the fourth centurion from England in the Day. England crossed the 500-run mark in the 75th over of the day and became the first team to reach the landmark on Day 1 of the Test. This was also the fifth-highest total achieved in a single Day of a Test match.
The play couldn’t continue as bad light stopped the play prematurely on Day 1. England finished the day at 506/4 with Ben Stokes unbeaten on 34(15) and Harry Brook on 101(81) not out. With four centuries already in the innings, England have a good chance of breaking the record of most centuries in a single Test innings by a team i.e 5, previously achieved by Pakistan and Australia.
Here’s how Twitter reacted to the run-fest in Rawalpindi:
Are England playing Real Cricket or what? Imagine scoring 500 runs in one day on a flat wicket! Video game numbers or Sheer Madness?#PAKvENG #UKSePK #Cricket pic.twitter.com/bX5crjm0uG
— Tyrelle Audain ??? (@tjaudain) December 1, 2022
Aisa strike rate to hamara T20 mein nhi hota?#PAKvENG pic.twitter.com/94R8tf8BG1
— Syed Shabbar Ali Shah (@_kazmi512) December 1, 2022
Day 1:
Oye Pakistan.
What the hell man ???? #PAKvENG— chutter putter (@OpinionsOptions) December 1, 2022
I know it is just the 1st day of the series but this Rawalpindi pitch, this bowling effort, this selection, this captaincy & approach. Ridiculous! Rubbish! Nonsense! I'm ashamed of it. #PAKvENG #PakvsEng2022 #PAKvsENG
— Malik Saleem Raza (@MS_Raza111) December 1, 2022
England openers made records tumble today.
Three Century on one day!
Beautiful innings, #ZakCrawley @BenDuckett1 @OPope32
500 Runs in a day. In less than 75 overs @englandcricket
England Batsman dominating whole day. #PAKvENG #TestCricket
— Sam (@qdnsam) December 1, 2022
Video game or whott??? ??#PAKvENG pic.twitter.com/7OFilE550u
— ammarr (@ammar120_) December 1, 2022
Ye england wale abi tk T20 mode me hai#PakistanCricket #PAKvENG pic.twitter.com/BUuMc1CHcJ
— Veer GAUTAM sisodiya (@veerGS15) December 1, 2022
This kid is more smarter than Ramiz Raja ? #PAKvENG #crickettwitter @Rizzvi73 @wwasay pic.twitter.com/aNVafClR6M
— Jorawarsinh Rajput King (@Crypto4Donate) December 1, 2022
•6 balls 6 fours against the self-proclaimed world's best bowling line-up Pakistan. That too in test.
•Ben Stokes was found laughing at Babar Azam and Pakistani bowlers.#WTC23 || #PAKvENG#PKMKBForever pic.twitter.com/sHtjV6xJof
— Aditya Raj Pandey (@aditya_pandey22) December 1, 2022
What an embarrassing first day at Rawalpindi. World coming to play Test cricket in Pakistan and then what u get , a flat road. This is utterly and embarrassing. ??#PAKvENG
— K.Talha?? (@Bism_ark) December 1, 2022
