It was a battle of strategies and tactics between England and Pakistan, but in the end, the visitors managed to take Pakistan down just before the end of the day's play to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.
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The first Test between Pakistan and England in Rawalpindi played out like no other, with the fourth day of play ending in dramatic fashion, with all three outcomes possible on the final day. It was a battle of strategies and tactics between England and Pakistan, but in the end, the visitors managed to take Pakistan down just before the end of the day’s play to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.
The first day began with England batters scoring runs for fun at Rawalpindi on what appeared to be a dead pitch. The hosts failed to contain the English batters, as the visitors scored a record-breaking 506/4 before the first day ended. They continued to score runs and put pressure on Pakistan’s bowlers before moving on to the second day.
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The scoring continued on the second day, with four of England’s batters scoring centuries in the first innings. England’s innings ended when Pakistan bowlers dismissed them after they had scored a whopping 657 runs. The second day ended with Pakistan’s openers scoring 181 runs and remaining unbeaten to keep the game alive.
The fourth day was full of surprises. The visitors ended Pakistan’s innings, but the hosts performed admirably. Pakistan chased down a large portion of the required total, leaving the visitors with just a 78-run lead before the start of their second innings. The visitors made a significant step forward by declaring early, scoring 264/7 and setting a target of 343 runs for Pakistan to chase.
The fifth day began in Pakistan’s favour as the hosts dominated with their batting. However, Pakistan lost four wickets in eight overs while batting in a crucial situation, putting England in control. Lower-order batters kept the game going brilliantly and kept their position intact in an attempt to draw the game. However, Jack Leach’s spin with the new ball assisted the visitors in taking the final wicket, just a few minutes before the end of the day, as England claimed a stunning victory.
| Position | TEAM | PCT (%) | Points | Matches Won | Matches Lost | Matches Drawn |
| 1 | AUSTRALIA | 72.73 | 96 | 7 | 1 | 3 |
| 2 | SOUTH AFRICA | 60 | 72 | 6 | 4 | 0 |
| 3 | SRI LANKA | 53.33 | 64 | 5 | 4 | 1 |
| 4 | INDIA | 52.08 | 75 | 6 | 4 | 2 |
| 5 | PAKISTAN | 46.67 | 56 | 4 | 4 | 2 |
| 6 | WEST INDIES | 45 | 54 | 4 | 4 | 2 |
| 7 | ENGLAND | 41.67 | 100 | 8 | 8 | 4 |
| 8 | NEW ZEALAND | 25.93 | 28 | 2 | 6 | 1 |
| 9 | BANGLADESH | 13.33 | 16 | 1 | 8 | 1 |
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