Fitting end to record-breaking Test match
From a record-breaking opening day to an edge-of-the-seat thriller late on day five, the Rawalpindi Test wasn't short of action.
Jack Leach ended Naseem Shah's 46-ball vigil by beating his bat to rap the pads to spark off celebrations in the England camp. It was a fitting end to a riveting Test match that saw multiple records broken.
The most runs in a five-day Test match ever
1768 runs came in the Test match where England and Pakistan combined to make over 1200 runs in their respective first innings. This is the highest tally of runs made in a Test match over five days.
The only two other higher-scoring Tests were the timeless Tests between England and South Africa in 1939 and the West Indies and England in 1930.
Only the third Test victory for England in Pakistan đź‘Ź#WTC23 | #PAKvENG | https://t.co/PRCGXi3dZS pic.twitter.com/0K9EB0oSE4
— ICC (@ICC) December 5, 2022
Two double-century opening stands
On what was a batting paradise, both opening pairs made merry, recording double-century stands in the first innings. This was the first ever time in a Test match that there were two double-hundred partnerships for the first wicket.
The Test also witnessed the only instance of all four openers making hundreds in the first batting innings of their respective teams.
England's breakneck pace of scoring
Day one had seen the most runs scored in the first day of a Test match, a record 506 runs put together in 75 overs, with 15 overs unused in the day due to bad light!
Scoring at a stunning run rate of 6.75 in the day, England had four centurions on day one, which again was a record for the first day of a Test.
The exciting turn the Rawalpindi Test took could be attributed to England's brave declaration call and excellent execution with the ball on day five, where their quicks took nine of the ten wickets to fall.
The last, which Leach snared, put an end to the Test match minutes before a draw was declared.