Pakistan v England

This was one of the strangest Test Matches for many years in that from before tea on the fourth day both sides gave up all thoughts of trying to win. This resulted in excessively dull and pointless cricket for a long period.

England were strengthened by the return of Pullar, David Smith, a bowler, being omitted. Pakistan made four changes from Lahore, the first Test played three months earlier. Alim-ud-Din and Shuja-ud-Din, two experienced players, Nasim-Ul-Ghani and D'Souza replaced Wallis Mathias, Mahmood Hussain, Afaq Hussain and Haseeb Ahsan.

Dexter lost the toss for the sixth time in seven Tests and Pakistan on a dead, slow pitch, made heavy weather of their batting. The ball tended to shoot but this hardly warranted only 43 runs being scored for the loss of one wicket in two hours before lunch.

Afterwards Saeed showed more aggression, but when he was out, having helped Hanif add 113, the caution returned. Only 175 runs came on the first day, Hanif batting throughout the five and a half hours for 64. Burki, missed when 26 by Russell, substituting for Richardson, down with stomach trouble, made England pay heavily for the lapse.

After lunch on the second day the batsmen were under orders to improve the rate and a big change came over the play. Burki began to produce fine strokes and he and Hanif added 156. Hanif's 111 took eight hours, twenty minutes. Burki hit eighteen 4's in 140. Most of the later batsmen threw away their wickets chasing runs before the declaration.

Barber opened the innings instead of Richardson and he and Pullar gave England a great start. They scored 57 in under an hour on the second evening and altogether made 198 in three and a quarter hours. Another big stand came from Pullar and Barrington and at the close of the third day England were 333 for one.

After the rest day the pitch became more difficult, with the ball keeping low and England broke down. The second wicket stand ended for 147 and the day's top scope was 19. Pullar's 165 which included sixteen 4's, took just on seven hours. He slowed considerably after reaching 100, his stamina going as the result of his previous dysentery and loss of weight.

England lost nine wickets for 106 on the fourth day and Pakistan made only 28 without loss in two hours, a total of 134 runs in the day.

Lock and Barrington bowled seamers instead of their normal spin and on the last morning Richardson and Pullar, two non-bowlers, shared the attack for over an hour. Hanif and Alim took four hours over an opening stand of 122.

Allen, going on as eighth bowler, and Lock, brought a collapse after lunch and for a brief period Pakistan were in trouble, but Hanif stood firm and the danger passed. Ninth out, Hanif stayed six hours, thirty-three minutes for 104, his second hundred of the match and altogether batted almost 15 hours, over half the game. He became the first Pakistan batsman to obtain a Test century in each innings. Pakistan led by 170 and only thirty-five minutes remained.

Although Pakistan would certainly have adopted even more careful tactics had the regular bowlers been used all the time, England probably gave up too quickly. Lock took his 150th Test wicket during the match in which he sent down 115 overs.