England snatched a riveting three-wicket victory over Pakistan in the first Test at Emirates Old Trafford thanks to a daring partnership between Chris Woakes and Jos Buttler.

Chasing 277 on a snakepit of a pitch, England looked all but beaten at 117-5, only for Woakes and Buttler to counter-attack in a partnership of 139.

Buttler was lbw reverse-sweeping Yasir Shah for 75 with 21 still required and the second new ball due.

The promoted Stuart Broad took England to within four, which Woakes got from an outside edge to end 84 not out.

It was Woakes who said on Friday night that England would draw on their experience of recent unlikely victories, and this latest success follows the drama of the World Cup final and the Headingley Ashes Test.

Not only were they second favourites for most of this fourth day, but also after conceding a 107-run first-innings lead after errors in the field, poor tactics and a top-order collapse.

They gradually battled back over the final two days, yet it was only when Buttler and Woakes were together that Pakistan’s energy was replaced by trepidation.

England win the opening match for the first time in six series and can earn their first success over Pakistan in 10 years if they win the second Test in Southampton, which starts on Thursday.

England pull one out of the fire

This was a classic finish to a gripping Test, one that in another time would have had an empty Emirates Old Trafford bouncing in Saturday revelry.

England were rightly criticised for their performance over the first two days – wicketkeeper Buttler’s pair of reprieves that allowed Shan Masood to make 156, captain Joe Root’s tactics, some feeble batting.

But the way they battled in the second half of their first innings was brave, their bowling in Pakistan’s second innings was tenacious and the match-winning Buttler-Woakes partnership was nerveless.

They made light of a surface that was turning, spitting and rearing to help England to the second highest run-chase ever completed to win a Test on this ground.

Buttler could barely watch as the third umpire took an age to confirm his dismissal, but that only led to the bold promotion of Broad.

However, it was fitting that Woakes, so often an unsung hero, hit the winning runs, celebrating with a roar that echoed around the empty stadium.

Woakes and Buttler take England home

Buttler famously has an irreverent slogan written on the handle of his bat. It is an approach that served him well in a situation where he may have been playing for his place after the keeping errors and a lean run with the bat.

What made the sixth-wicket stand all the more remarkable is what had gone before. England had lost 3-20 after Naseem Shah got one to lift at Root, Yasir’s fizzing googly took the glove of Ben Stokes and Ollie Pope had no chance in the face of an unplayable lifter from Shaheen Afridi.

Buttler and Woakes decided that attack was the best form of defence. Buttler went after leg-spinner Yasir with drives, sweeps and reverse-sweeps. Woakes slapped the pace bowlers through the covers.

The 50 partnership came in 49 balls. Pakistan retreated and the pitch went to sleep. The metronomic Mohammad Abbas was ineffective.

The strokeplay gave way to steady accumulation, tension rising as the scoring slowed. Buttler freed the shackles by heaving Shadab Khan for six, but was out in the following over.

Broad swiped seven useful runs, then Woakes’ edge to third man sealed victory in the glorious evening sunshine.

Pakistan fall at the last

Pakistan had been in control for so long thanks to their determined first-innings batting, relentless bowling and enthusiasm in the field.

The tourists showed togetherness throughout, their reserve players making noise from the balcony of the hotel that overlooks the ground.

They took the initiative at the start of the day, extending their lead by 32 runs in 16 chaotic deliveries that also included the fall of the final two wickets.

But Pakistan immediately seemed intimidated by Buttler. The field spread, pressure was released and runs were much easier to come by.

Captain Azhar Ali burned his reviews in desperation before Yasir struck late to remove Buttler and Broad.

Pakistan buzzed and chatted to the end, but ultimately lost a match they should have won.

‘After last summer we believe anything is possible’

England captain Joe Root: “[Where does that win rank?] Up there. It was a brilliant chase. I couldn’t be more proud of the lads. The way we approached the day was outstanding and that partnership with Woakesy and Jos was magnificent. I am thrilled to bits to be stood here having won the game.

“After last summer it is very hard to stop believing. We know anything is possible.

“One thing you can never doubt in our dressing room is the character. I am really proud and pleased that has shone through today.”

Man of the match Chris Woakes: “We felt that attacking was the way to go on that surface.

“The match situation made our minds for us. It was good idea to take them on and put them under pressure.

“I was playing second fiddle at one point. I was devastated Jos got out but it was a great partnership.

“He is one of the best white-ball players in the world – one of the best run-chasers – and he showed why today. He put them under pressure. I couldn’t have picked a better partner at the other end.”

Ex-Pakistan all-rounder Azhar Mahmood: “It was an extraordinary game of cricket. I must give credit to England.

“It was tough when Woakes and Buttler came in. It was a brilliant effort from the bowlers but the thing that cost Pakistan was the captaincy.”

Stats round-up

by Andy Zaltzman, BBC Test Match Special statistician

160

This was the number of runs required when England’s fifth wicket fell.England had previously won only one Test when, in a fourth-innings chase, their fifth wicket fell with 130 or more needed to win. That was in 1902 at The Oval when, at 48-5, they required 215 more for victory over Australia. Number seven Gilbert Jessop scored a pyrotechnic 104 in 77 minutes, before Yorkshire’s George Hirst and Wilfred Rhodes added 15 for the last wicket.

139

This was the sum of the sixth-wicket partnership between Buttler and Woakes which is the third highest stand for the sixth wicket or lower in a successful fourth-innings chase (behind Gilchrist and Langer, 238, Australia v Pakistan, November 1999; and de Silva and Ranatunga, 189*, Sri Lanka v Zimbabwe, January 1998).

107

England’s first-innings deficit was 107. This was the third time in the last two summers England have won a Test after conceding a first-innings deficit of more than 100 runs (122 v Ireland, Lord’s, July 2019; 112 v Australia, Headingley, August 2019). They had only two such victories in the previous 10 years. In all, this was England’s 20th victory after a 100-run deficit (out of 282 Tests in which they have trailed by 100 or more).

8

The number of single figure scores Woakes had recorded in his last nine Test innings before this match.In seven of those innings he had been dismissed within 10 balls. In the last 12 balls he had faced in Tests before this Test, he had scored one run and been dismissed four times.

2016

The last time an England wicketkeeper scored more than 70 in the second innings of a Test (Jonny Bairstow’s 81 v Pakistan at The Oval). Since the 2016-17 winter, up to the end of this summer’s West Indies series, England’s keepers had managed just five half-centuries in 39 second innings – Buttler had averaged 19 in seven second innings, Bairstow 26 in 27 and Foakes 52 in five.