In the first test, Joe Root bats left-handed against Pakistan and comes dangerously close to being caught

During the first test match between England and Pakistan, left-handed hitter Joe Root represented England at the batting crease. Joe Root took advantage of the batting-friendly conditions in Rawalpindi by switching to a left-handed batting mode as he was batting against right-arm spinner Zahid Mahmood for the first two deliveries of the sixth over. Zahid Mahmood was bowling right-arm spin.

Root swept ball one to square leg, but Naseem Shah at mid-wicket caught him off guard by dropping the ball on the following delivery.

The batsman swiftly gave up on the strategy and switched back to his right-handed batting posture, but he was nevertheless removed by Mahmood for 73 runs after being caught by Imam-ul-Haq.

In preparation for the match, Pakistan has been given a target score of 343 runs to reach in order to win. Pakistan’s score is 80/2 at the end of day 4, and Imam-ul-Haq (43 not out) and Saud Shakeel (24 not out) are still at the crease.

In their second innings, England declared their innings when they had scored 264/7 after having played for 35.5 overs. Harry Brook hit 11 fours and three sixes on his way to an 87-run innings off just 65 balls. Joe Root (73 runs) and Zak Crawley (50 runs) also scored in the fifties for their respective teams.

This gave England a lead of 342 runs going into the final innings of the match, giving the home team a goal score of 343 to achieve.

Two wickets were taken by Naseem Shah, Mohammad Ali, and Zahid Mahmood respectively. Agha Salman each took one wicket in the match.

In their first innings, Pakistan scored 579, which was a response to England’s first innings score of 657. England’s first innings score. At that stage in the game, they were already behind by 78 runs in the contest.

A magnificent century was achieved by Babar Azam (136), and openers Imam-ul-Haq (121) and Abdullah Shafique (100) also contributed to the victory (114). Will Jacks (6/161) was outstanding when it came to England’s handling of the ball. Jack Leach was the most successful bowler, taking two wickets, while James Anderson and Ollie Robinson each took one.

In their first innings, England posted a score of 657. Crawley (122), Ben Duckett (107), Ollie Pope (108), and Harry Brook (153) all recorded hundreds as the visitors made the most of the batting-friendly conditions.

Zahid Mahmood took four wickets for 235 runs, and Naseem Shah took three for 140. These two were the best bowlers for Pakistan. Ali was responsible for two wickets, and Haris Rauf also got one.