England became the first team to score 500 runs on the first day of a Test match. They achieved this remarkable feat against Pakistan played at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on 1 December 2022.
England captain Ben Stokes won the toss and decided to bat first. Zak Crawley began the session on a bang with 3 boundaries in the first over against Naseem Shah. Ben Duckett and Crawley kept pressure with attacking shots not allowing the Pakistani bowlers to settle. Pakistan had 4 debutants in the opening Test match.
Crawley and Duckett look at ease hitting boundaries with ease. Crawley completed a half-century off 38 balls. Both England openers showed their intent to keep the scoreboard ticking with boundaries. Duckett also completed his half-century off 50 balls. Crawley and Duckett scored runs easily not allowing the Pakistani bowlers to settle.
Crawley and Duckett kept the momentum going for England as they ended the first session at 174 for 0 in 27 overs going at 6.4 runs per over.
Crawley was given a reprieve given out by the umpire but on review, it was overturned to not out as missing the leg stump. He then completed his century off 86 balls. Crawley and Duckett took on Zahid Mahmood. Duckett also reached century off 105 deliveries to leave Pakistan’s captain surprised.
Are you not entertained!? 😉
🇵🇰 #PAKvENG 🏴 pic.twitter.com/R2gTwjo2Nv
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) December 1, 2022
The debutant Zahid Mahmood got rid of Ben Duckett with a review for LBW. The umpire gave not out but on review, it was overturned to out as it was hitting the middle stump. Duckett and Crawley added 233 runs for the opening wicket. Haris Rauf grabbed his first Test wicket with a lovely delivery to dismiss Zak Crawley.
Ollie Pope and Joe Root looked in decent touch putting pressure on Pakistan bowlers with aggressive intent. Zahid Mahmood got rid of Root with a decent delivery. Pope and Root added 51 runs for the 3rd wicket.
Ollie Pope joined in with Harry Brooks keeping the scoreboard ticking. England went into the tea break at 332 for 3. England scored 158 runs in the second session as Pope kept piling on runs, completing a half-century off 54 balls. Harry Brooks hammered the Pakistani bowling scoring boundaries with ease. Brooks smashed six successive boundaries off Saud Shakeel and completed fifty off 52 balls.
England post 506/4 at the end of Day 1
Pope and Brooks decimated the Pakistani bowling scoring at a quick rate. Pope completed his century off 90 balls maintaining pressure. Another Pakistan debutant Mohammad Ali grabbed his first wicket dismissing Pope with a review. Pope was given not out but on review, it was overturned to out. Brooks and Pope added 176 runs for the fourth wicket.
Captain Ben Stokes joined in the party with aggressive shots. Harry Brooks completed his maiden Test century off 80 balls. Stokes and Brooks added unbeaten 44 runs for the 5th wicket. It was a sensational batting display by England’s batting line-up.
England ended the first day at a record 506/4 in 75 overs going at 6.74 runs per over. The 3 Test match series between visiting England and Pakistan is a part of the ICC Test Championship cycle. The previous best on the first day in a Test match was by Australia against South Africa. Australia scored 494 runs played at SCG in 1910.
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