Pakistan cricket's glory days a distant memory

Englandrsquos bowlers led by spinner Jack Leach tore through Pakistan to secure victory in the first Test here on Friday after a record partnership between Harry Brook and Joe Root turned the match on its headEnglandrsquos attack made short work of the last four Pakistan batters on Day Five dismissing the hosts for 200 to win by an innings and 47 runs and draw first blood in the threematch seriesShan MasoodLeach led the England attack with 430 ending Pakistanrsquos only meaningful partnership on the fifth day when he dislodged Salman Agha for a fighting 63Records galoreBrook smashed 317 and Root a recordsetting 262 in Englandrsquos mammoth 8237 declared giving the visitors a 267run lead Their 454 Englandrsquos highestever partnership for any wicket in Test cricket gave the visitors an improbable advantage after Pakistanrsquos impressive 556 firstinnings totalAt stumps on the fourth day on a lifeless pitch England had posted the fourthhighest Test innings total of 8237 and taken total control of the match with the hosts teetering at 1526Pakistan captain Shan Masood has now six consecutive defeats since being appointed skipper last year including three in Australia and two at home at the hands of BangladeshThe hosts have gone 11 Tests without a win on home grounds their last win against South Africa came in February 2021Also ReadRetired umpire Aleem Darrsquos addition to PCB selection panel draws mixed reactionsHarsh realityMasood admitted he was gutted after an innings defeat Pakistan became the first team in Test history to lose a game after scoring 550plus runs in the first innings ldquoIt is disappointing to lose again England found a way to win the match they created their window of opportunity Harsh reality is that Test cricket quality sides find a way to win matchesrdquo he told the media after the match on FridayldquoI wouldnrsquot say my team is mentally weak but we expected this pitch to break by the third day onwards that is why we prolonged our innings But at the end of the day you have to find ways to take 20 wickets and we are not doing that in recent timesrdquo he saidMasood said the pitch was the same for both sides but a good formula to win Test matches is to put up a good first innings score so that you are in the driving seat in the third and fourth innings and then find windows to take 20 wickets He pointed out that Pakistan had played a Test in Multan for the first time since 2022 and didnrsquot get a chance to interact with the curator or groundsmen ldquoBoth squads were different this time in Multan But we need to improve on ways to adapt too conditions and situations every day of a Test and find ways to win as pitch changes everydayrdquo he saidBrief scoresPakistan 556 amp 220 S Agha 63 A Jamal 55 J Leach 430 G Atkinson 246 B Carse 266 lost to England 8237d by an innings and 47 runs06No of Tests Shan Masood has led Pakistan in He has lost all of them11Consecutive number of Tests Pakistan have not won at home