England routed Pakistan by an innings and 55 runs in the second test at Headingley on Sunday and levelled the two-match series 1-1. The victory halfway through the third day was as comprehensive as Pakistan's triumph had been at Lord's, with England looking a completely different team from the one who had subsided to a nine-wicket defeat. Joe Root’s side responded to the heavy criticism they received with an all-round performance.
Facing a first innings deficit of 189, Pakistan were routed for 134 to lose by an innings and 55 runs. It was a meek surrender for the tourists. The discipline and resilience on show at first test were sorely missing here and a number of their batsmen, including the experienced pair of Azhar Ali and Sarfraz Ahmed.
Overall, it was a strong performance from England but they were fortunate to benefit from helpful bowling conditions on the opening day. Bowling out Pakistan for 174 set up the win but this was also a more purposeful display than the lacklustre one they mustered at Lord's. After a run of six defeats from their last eight Tests, this team simply needed a victory. It was, in many ways, a typical England performance in home conditions. Their bowlers, led by James Anderson and Stuart Broad who picked up two and three wickets respectively, made good use of helpful conditions and their batting, while not dominating and missing a big score for the top order, scrabbled together enough runs for their bowlers to do their jobs. There were positives in the form of Dom Bess, who finally took his maiden Test wicket, and Jos Buttler while Sam Curran, on debut, did a decent job.
Pakistan will be deeply frustrated by their effort after such a fine performance at Lord's and a three-day defeat is a disappointing way to end what has been an otherwise encouraging tour. It should be remembered that this is an inexperienced team but the lack of application with the bat in conditions admittedly more difficult than in the first Test hurt them here.
Buttler played a gem of a hand in the first session, helping advance England's overnight lead of 128 by a further 61. His last 11 balls yielded 35 runs and he hit two sixes. Had England's tail been able to stay with him longer, a maiden Test hundred could have been on the cards but James Anderson's dismissal left England's number seven on 80 not out.
England took three wickets in the 11 overs before lunch as Pakistan failed to obtain the steady start they were hoping for. Azhar Ali, the most accomplished of the tourists' top order, played all-round a straight one from Anderson to be bowled and 10 runs later, Haris Sohail was brilliantly caught by Bess, one handed, diving to his left, at mid-off. When Asad Shafiq was strangled down the leg-side off Broad, Pakistan were in deep trouble. It was a position from which they never truly recovered.
Brief scores: Pakistan 174 (Shadab Khan 56; Stuart Broad 3-38, James Anderson 3-43) & 134 (Imam-ul-Haq 34; Stuart Broad 3-28, Dominic Bess 3-33) lost to England 363 (Jos Buttler 80*, Dominic Bess 49; Faheem Ashraf 3-60) by an innings and 55 runs.
