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The Rawalpindi pitch has not provided much of a contest between bat and ball as England played their first Test on Pakistan soil after a big gap of 17 years. On Day 4 of the Test, England players provided some entertainment with their fearless ‘Bazball’ approach. Former skipper Joe Root took it a step further when he decided to bat left-handed. No, he did not attempt a switch hit but became a left-handed batter.
In the second session on Day 4, Root reached his half-century with a four off Naseem Shah in the 22nd over. He took 48 deliveries to get to the milestone. In the next over, leg-spinner Zahid Mahmood decided to come round the wicket to Root. In order to play with the spin instead of against it, Root took a stance like a left-handed batter to surprise the hosts.
Root decided to use the sweep shot against him. First ball, he swept well but the mid-wicket fielder Naseem fielded it well. Root went for another sweep shot but could not keep it down. Naseem dived to his left, got both hands on it but could not complete the catch as Root managed to get a single as a left-handed batter.
In the same over, Root went back to his original stance and found a boundary. In the end, Zahid had the last laugh. His plan to bowl outside leg stump worked as the Englishman went for a sweep but ended up getting caught at short fine leg by Imam-ul-Haq. He scored 73 runs from 59 deliveries including six fours. In the same over, he got the wicket of skipper Ben Stokes as well for a three-ball duck.
Despite the fall of wickets, England batters stuck with their approach. Harry Brook missed his second century on Test debut. He scored 87 runs from 65 balls including 11 fours and three sixes. Will Jacks also contributed with a 13-ball 24 before Stokes made the bold declaration at 264/7. Now, Babar Azam-led Pakistan need 343 runs to win the first Test.
