Chris Woakes inspires and Jos Buttler atones as England beat Pakistan | The Guardian

First Test, day four: Pakistan 326 & 169; England 219 & 277-7Woakes (84*) and Buttler (75) secure win from depths of 117-5As just about no one anticipated, England won an extraordinary match, a classic in camera, by three wickets. Needing 277 for victory they slumped to 117 for five and the pitch seemed to have acquired the qualities of a snake pit. Then a sublime partnership of 139 between Jos Buttler, roundly condemned for his keeping in this match, and Chris Woakes, peculiarly ignored by his captain in the field on Friday, united to transform the game. No one could ignore their qualities anymore.As ever there was a little flurry of wickets as England homed in on their target. Buttler departed with 21 runs still required, lbw to Yasir Shah. The promoted Stuart Broad went the same way when four runs were required but an outside edge through the slip cordon from the bat of the heroic Woakes prompted the players to bump elbows after an epic contest that has justified all the peculiar hurdles the pandemic has required everyone involved to overcome. Continue reading…

• First Test, day four: Pakistan 326 & 169; England 219 & 277-7
• Woakes (84*) and Buttler (75) secure win from depths of 117-5

As just about no one anticipated, England won an extraordinary match, a classic in camera, by three wickets. Needing 277 for victory they slumped to 117 for five and the pitch seemed to have acquired the qualities of a snake pit. Then a sublime partnership of 139 between Jos Buttler, roundly condemned for his keeping in this match, and Chris Woakes, peculiarly ignored by his captain in the field on Friday, united to transform the game. No one could ignore their qualities anymore.

As ever there was a little flurry of wickets as England homed in on their target. Buttler departed with 21 runs still required, lbw to Yasir Shah. The promoted Stuart Broad went the same way when four runs were required but an outside edge through the slip cordon from the bat of the heroic Woakes prompted the players to bump elbows after an epic contest that has justified all the peculiar hurdles the pandemic has required everyone involved to overcome.

Continue reading…