AP, London :
Mohammad Amir took the winning wicket on his return to Lord’s after a spot-fixing scandal as Pakistan beat England by 75 runs on Sunday in the first cricket test.
Leg-spinner Yasir Shah grabbed 4-69 for his maiden test haul of 10 wickets as England was bowled out for 207 on the fourth day after Pakistan set a challenging target of 283 to win.
Jonny Bairstow top scored with a restrained 48 off 147 balls and defied Pakistan for over two hours with Chris Woakes (23) in a seventh-wicket stand of 56. But once Shah removed both, Amir wrapped up the innings quickly by clean bowling Stuart Broad and No. 11 Jake Ball to mark his return to test cricket after his five-year ban ended last year.
“Remarkable turnaround after that 2010 incident, this team took responsibility,” said Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq, in a reference to the Lord’s test six years ago where Amir bowled deliberate no-balls and was later banned and jailed.
“It’s a really memorable day for him (Amir) and from here he can start his career again, he is a good kid now,” Misbah said. “(Pakistan) showed respect to the game, playing all through the six years, bringing the team to No. 3. And winning this test match against a top side in their condition speaks volumes.”
Soon after victory, all the Pakistan players lined up and did press-ups on the field – a gesture remembering their instructors at an army academy back home where they underwent training to prepare for the four-test series against England.
Seamer Rahat Ali (3-47) had earlier rocked England’s top order before Shah took charge on a wearing wicket after Pakistan was bowled out for 215 for an overall lead of 282.
Ali’s triple strike had left England at 47-3 when he induced edges off captain Alastair Cook (8) and Alex Hales (16) while Joe Root (9) once again threw away his wicket with a reckless pull shot.
James Vince (42) got a lucky escape on 9 before lunch when Younis Khan couldn’t grasp a hard low catch on his second attempt in the slips off Ali before Younis caught him – again on the second attempt – soon after lunch off Wahab Riaz.
Shah’s twin strikes then saw England further slip to 139-6 when Gary Ballance (43) and Moeen Ali (2) fell in quick succession before Bairstow and Woakes delayed the inevitable with their defiance.
Bairstow tried to play across the line off Shah’s straighter delivery and was clean bowled while Woakes finally ran out of patience after facing 108 balls to give Younis another catch in the slips.
“There’s a bitter taste in the dressing room right now … but it’s up to the individuals to change,” Cook said.
“It’s really frustrating, we’ve lost before and we can bounce back. We have to digest this overnight and pick a squad for Old Trafford.”
The second test starts Friday.
