Rain washed out much of the final day at Southampton as the last Test ended in a draw, but enough time was left for James Anderson to claim his 600th Test wicket.
Play eventually began just over five hours after the scheduled start, with Azhar Ali and Babar Azam resuming for Pakistan.
Jofra Archer opened the day’s bowling with a barrage of short-pitched bowling, with Anderson beginning at the other end as he sought his 600th Test wicket.
Pakistan were not able to hold him at bay for long, however, as England’s leading wicket-taker produced some steepling bounce to take Azhar’s outside edge, with Joe Root completing the catch at slip.
Anderson is just the fourth bowler in the history of the game to take 600 Test wickets, and the first seam bowler to reach the mark.
A historic wicket 🙌 #ENGvPAKpic.twitter.com/W29iMRY06O
— ICC (@ICC) August 25, 2020
England turned to spin not long after, first in the form of Dom Bess, then Root and finally Dom Sibley – bowling some eventful leg-spin – as they looked to get through to the second new ball quickly. It was not a fruitless period for England however, as Root managed to have Asad Shafiq caught bat-pad by substitute fielder James Bracey.
Along the way, Babar Azam passed 2,000 Test runs, as well as bringing up his 15th Test fifty.
Anderson and Stuart Broad took the new ball, bowling 3.1 overs to reach the last hour before the sides agreed upon the draw.
The result means England take the series 1-0 but are still four points behind Australia in the World Test Championship, while Pakistan remain in fifth place behind New Zealand. (ICC)
