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The first Test match between England and Pakistan in Multan concluded with a resounding victory for the English team, highlighting the significant gap in performance between the two nations in the World Test Championship (WTC). The win propelled England to the fourth position in the WTC standings, while Pakistan remained at the bottom. The match witnessed England's bowlers, led by spinner Jack Leach, dismantle Pakistan's batting lineup in the second innings, securing a triumph by an innings and 47 runs.
England's success was built upon a record-breaking partnership between Harry Brook and Joe Root, who turned the tide of the match with their impressive batting display. Brook amassed a stunning 317 runs, while Root's 262 runs set a new record for England's highest individual score in a Test match. Their partnership, totaling 454 runs, established a new record for England's highest partnership for any wicket in Test cricket, giving the visitors an improbable lead after Pakistan's impressive 556 runs in their first innings.
The match's dramatic turn of events can be attributed to England's bowlers' dominance, particularly Leach's effectiveness in the second innings. He claimed crucial wickets, including Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah, effectively dismantling Pakistan's batting order. Despite a valiant attempt by Salman and Aamer Jamal to save the match on the fourth day, Leach's astute bowling strategies ultimately proved too strong for the Pakistan team.
The contrasting positions of India and Pakistan in the WTC standings, with India at the top and Pakistan at the bottom, underscores the substantial difference in the quality of cricket played by the two teams. The recent performance gap between India and Pakistan has raised concerns about the future of Pakistan cricket, particularly in the context of the WTC.
The series continues with the second Test at the same venue in Multan, starting on Tuesday, followed by the third Test in Rawalpindi from October 24th. As the series progresses, the focus will be on Pakistan's ability to improve their performance and bridge the gap with the top teams in the WTC. Whether they can overcome their recent struggles and secure a victory in the remaining matches remains a key question for the remainder of the series.
Source: Updated World Test Championship Points Table Show True Difference Between India, Pakistan Teams