England win first Test against Pakistan by three wickets

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England's Chris Woakes celebrates after hitting the winning runs during play on the fourth day of the first Test cricket match between England and Pakistan at Old Trafford in Manchester, north-west England on August 8, 2020. — AFP

MANCHESTER: England beat Pakistan by three wickets to win the first Test at Old Trafford on Saturday in dramatic fashion.

Chasing a challenging target of 277, England lost five wickets for only 117 runs but Buttler and Woakes came to rescue and batted cautiously and confidently to add 139 runs for the sixth wicket partnership.

This was a remarkable achievement as only for the third time a team chased more than 200 to win in the fourth innings of a Test at Old Trafford, with England making 294-4 against New Zealand in 2008 and 231-3 against the West Indies at the Manchester ground in 2004.

Buttler made 75 from 101 balls with seven fours and a six while Woakes remained not out on 84. His 120-ball innings was laced with ten boundaries.

Earlier, England were set a challenging target of 277 to win after Yasir Shah led a valuable late-order batting assault by the tourists. He made a quickfire 33 off just 24 balls, including five fours and a six.