Woakes is wizard at crease for England in thrilling finish
Chris Woakes yesterday stood tall at the close as he and Jos Buttler shared in a magnificent chase that saw England provide a classic first Test against Pakistan with a worthy finale.
England were on the rocks when the pair came together on the fourth afternoon, 117 for five with their target of 277 a dim and distant prospect.
But they reclaimed the upper hand in style, putting on 139 in a brilliantly judged sixthwicket stand that set up a memorable threewicket victory.
Woakes’ remarkable 84 not out, including 10 fours and the deciding runs, saw him turn match-winner with his highest score in more than two years.
Buttler owed a debt to his team after three costly misses behind the stumps in the first innings and paid with a flourish, making a superb 75.
It may not have the Ashes kudos, the nail-bitingly tense finish or the allimportant crowd but as an example of cool batsmanship against a pedigree attack, it bears comparison.
The day began at full throttle with Pakistan’s innings wrapped up for 169 in a 16-ball blur that contained 32 runs and two wickets.
A lunch score of 55 for one represented solid progress, Rory Burns the man to go to a fractional lbw decision in Mohammad Abbas’ favour.
The steady accumulation continued in the afternoon until Sibley broke ranks, swinging hard when Yasir tossed one up to the stumps and squirting to slip.
Having broken the stand at 64, Pakistan went on the charge as England’s middle-order engine room crumbled in taxing conditions. Root gave it away on 42, shaping to steer Naseem Shah to his favourite outlet at third man but fending a rising delivery to Babar Azam.
Ben Stokes found himself in an all-too familiar position but was unable to answer the call this time. It took lavish, unnatural bounce from Yasir to beat him on nine.
The writing appeared to be on the wall when Shaheen Afridi got one to explode off the pitch at Ollie Pope, leaving him no option but to flinch in shock and loop a catch to gully. With four wickets tumbling for 31 runs, the winning line seemed distant and the pitch unreliable.
In those circumstances, what Buttler and Woakes produced was incredible. The pair put on exactly 50 in just 49 balls before tea, egging each other on with a series of increasingly dazzling shots.
Both men reached half-centuries in the 63rd over, Butter marginally quicker in 55 balls but Woakes in real style as he punched Naseem for back-toback fours.
Yasir won another close call against Buttler and then saw off Broad too, but Woakes remained. The winning runs came via a thick outside edge but his knock will go down as one of the very highest calibre.