Pakistan skipper Sarfraz proud of England draw

LEEDS (United Kingdom): Pakistan captain Sarfraz Ahmed insisted he was proud of his youthful side even after an innings and 55-run defeat at Headingley denied them a Test -series victory in England.

That overwhelming loss, completed inside three days on Sunday, meant the two-match campaign ended all square at 1-1 following what Sarfraz said was Pakistan’s “perfect” nine-wicket victory in the first Test at Lord’s.

Defeat left Pakistan still looking for their first Test series success in England since 1996, when fast-bowling greats Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis were in the side.

Despite skittling England out for just 184 in their first innings at Lord’s, Sarfraz elected to bat after winning the toss in Leeds.

While the Headingley pitch provided a typically good surface, overhead conditions quickly became humid and cloudy, creating a swing-friendly environment that made batting difficult.

Even so, Pakistan would still have expected to have made more than their 174, which featured a third fifty in as many Tests from teenage leg-spinner Shadab Khan.

That total meant they were always chasing the game and, were just one individual effort away from conceding a large first-innings lead.

Having fielded brilliantly as a side at Lord’s, Pakistan saw Hasan Ali drop a routine catch when Jos Buttler was on four.

The dashing Buttler punished Pakistan with an unbeaten 80 in an England reply of 363.

Pakistan, 189 behind on first innings, then slumped to 134 all out in 46 overs second time around as their top order again failed to fire.

But having also overseen a victory over Test debutants Ireland in Dublin during this tour, Sarfraz was pleased with Pakistan’s progress.

“When we came here people thought we will not win one game but the way we played at Lord’s everything was perfect, our fast bowling was perfect, our batting and fielding were perfect,” Sarfraz told reporters.

“It’s disappointing that we had a chance to win the series but unfortunately we didn’t play well here.”

Pakistan arrived for this tour having gone several months without a Test since a 68-run defeat by Sri Lanka in Dubai and Sarfraz said playing three in relatively quick succession was always likely to prove a tough challenge for his team.