England put on a brilliant bowling display in the first innings of the first Test against Pakistan at Headingley. Hosts pacers Ollie Robinson and Josh Tang bowled out Pakistan for just 171 runs. But the rare feat of two English pacers was even greater than Pakistan’s batting collapse. For the first time in the 149-year history of Test cricket, two bowlers completed five wickets in two consecutive balls.
Robinson completed his five-wicket haul by dismissing Khurram Shehzad on the first ball of the 48th over of Pakistan’s innings. Tang completed his five-wicket haul by bowling Mohammad Abbas on the first ball of the next over. This became the first time in Test history that two bowlers took five wickets in two consecutive deliveries.
Not only did Robinson make history with this last-ball feat, he also made history with the first ball of the innings. He became the first England bowler to take a wicket off the first ball of a series by getting Azan Awais out lbw. Pakistan then lost their second wicket for just 6 runs.
Imam-ul-Haq and Abdullah Shafiq put on a 91-run stand for the third wicket to temporarily put Pakistan out of danger. Imam scored 42 and Shafiq scored 61. After their dismissal, Pakistan’s batting could not hold on any longer. The visitors’ innings was restricted to 171 runs in 48.1 overs.
Robinson and Tang are the first England pacers to take five wickets in the same innings against Pakistan. This is the 11th time that England bowlers have achieved this feat. The last time Steve Harmison and Monty Panesar took five wickets in the same innings against Pakistan was in 2006.
In reply, England finished the first day at 112 for 2. Ben Duckett returned with 15 and Emilio Gay with 35. Joe Root, returning as captain, is unbeaten on 37 and Jordan Cox is unbeaten on 23. England will start the second day 59 runs behind Pakistan.
