After Pakistan’s nine-wicket win at Lord’s, we look back at some of their greatest performances in England
Osman Samiuddin28-May-20181982, Lord’s – Won by 10 wicketsPakistan had not won a Test in England for 28 years when they arrived at Lord’s for the second match of the series. They had lost the first Test in Birminghan. But this was the beginning of Imran Khan’s captaincy, and his rise to becoming the best allrounder in the world.It was a dominant performance, though ultimately, because of rain and bad light, they had to race against time on the final day to win it. Mohsin Khan’s double-hundred set the platform and a remarkable first day by standards of the time: Pakistan sped to 295 for 3 and were so in control they chose not to wear helmets against Ian Botham, Robin Jackman and Derek Pringle. In all, Pakistan scored at over three runs an over.Abdul Qadir, Sarfraz Nawaz and Imran hastened an England collapse (they lost 6 for 54 at the end) and enforced the follow-on. Sarfraz and Tahir Naqqash were both unfit in the second innings, so emerged an unlikely hero with one of the most famous Pakistani spells. Mudassar Nazar, by trade a dour opener, took 6 for 32 with the very definition of dibbly-dobbly bowling, remembered thereafter as “The Man with the Golden Arm”. Mohsin and Javed Miandad scored at nearly six an over to chase down the target.It began a golden period for Pakistan in England. Though they would lose the series amid umpiring controversy, they won the next three and would not be beaten again until 24 years later.Imran Khan bowls at Lord’s in 1982•Getty Images1987, Headingley – Won by an innings and 18 runsThis was the win that eventually sealed a first-ever series victory in England for Pakistan. And little surprise that the captain Imran was at the very forefront, with 10 for 77, including his 300th Test wicket.Headingley used to be a real swinging ground in those days and though it was sunny when England chose to bat, Imran didn’t take long to locate those big, booming inswingers. England fell to 31 for 5 and were eventually all done for 136.Pakistan’s reply was solid and, like over the last week, disciplined. It was exemplified by Salim Malik’s 99 – one of three Malik masterpieces in Leeds (a pair of 80s in 1992 complete the trilogy). But a 217-run lead was more than enough, Imran ripping through England’s second innings with 7 for 40 and the game was over five overs into the fourth day.A few young bucks helped Imran out though. Ijaz Ahmed’s 50 was important, but the real rising star was Wasim Akram, with five wickets, a 42-ball 43 and a magnificent mullet.1992, Lord’s – Won by two wicketsIf, in some imaginary world, the two Ws lived together, and if in the imaginary house in that imaginary world they had a trophy cabinet, then the imaginary trophy from this real Lord’s Test would occupy prime space. They will always have Hamilton but this was Lord’s, in one of the most-storied series of the last 30 years.It had a bit of everything, except a defining innings. Fast bowlers took wickets, there were collapses in three innings and an implosion in the fourth, there was friction between two sides, and two leggies scrapped just as hard to not miss out – including the memorable debut of Ian Salisbury.The Ws were at the root of both England collapses – 6 for 42 in the first innings and 7 for 55 in the second. It left Pakistan needing 138 to win. It should’ve been a formality but Chris Lewis and Salisbury left the batting in tatters.There was a comic Inzi run-out and when Mushtaq Ahmed fell and Waqar walked in, Pakistan needed 43 still. Akram was at the crease already and somehow, the pair battled through, an Akram cover drive sealing the deal – 13 wickets for the pair and this.Waqar Younis (left) and Wasim Akram hold up the trophy•David Munden/Popperfoto/Getty Images1992, The Oval – Won by 10 wicketsIn some ways, not least the comprehensive nature of the victories, the 1992 win at The Oval was similar to Lord’s 2018. What elevates 1992, however, is that it sealed a series win that was more closely fought than is sometimes remembered.As at Lord’s, it began with a disciplined, strangling performance by the bowlers. Akram ended with six, but the dismissal of England for 207 was a collective effort from one of Pakistan’s strongest quartets: the two Ws, Mushy and Aaqib Javed.Four Pakistanis made between 50 and 59 – just as four scored half-centuries at Lord’s over the weekend – and there was a 49 and a 40. It wasn’t a grind either, as Pakistan scored at nearly three runs an over.Fittingly, given how they had dominated the series, it was the two Ws who took over second time round, taking eight wickets between them as Pakistan were left to get 2 for victory. Mushtaq took the other two wickets – at Lord’s, the two As, Mohammads Amir and Abbas took eight wickets between them, with the legspin of Shadab Khan picking up the other two.At the double: Pakistan celebrated victory with a set of push-ups•Getty Images2016, Lord’s – Won by 75 runsFor background and context, few Test wins anywhere in the world have been sweeter for Pakistan. This squad had arrived with rare energy and togetherness, working their way through opponents at home (mostly) and away (a little). They had been through a tough training camp, had come early to England to acclimatise and were as close-knit as any Pakistan squad in recent memory.And then it began. Misbah-ul-Haq, 42 years young, captain marvel, first time at Lord’s, a first-day hundred and then those push-ups. With the ball, there was the return of Mohammad Amir, to the same ground where six years earlier he had been banished from the game. And where would England-Pakistan be without a legspinner?Yasir Shah took six in that first innings to secure a lead and then chipped in with a useful 30 to ensure England would have no easy chase. And then he returned to take out the heart of England’s middle to set up a famous win. Amir took the last wicket and a prolonged goose-bump of a Test got its defining image when Pakistan celebrated en masse with push-ups on the field.
