Twitter Reactions: England thwart Pakistan to script memorable victory on dramatic final day in Rawalpindi

Ben Stokes' England defeated Pakistan in a thrilling finale to draw first blood in the Test series. The visitors forced a result on one of the flattest pitches in the country after a brave declaration by their mercurial skipper on the fourth Day. The hosts were on course for a memorable victory only for an incredible last half an hour from the English bowlers to pull through in a see-saw battle in Rawalpindi.

The final day started with jubilation for the England team as they got rid of the well-set Imam-ul-Haq early in the morning session. However, the hosts frustrated the English bowlers after that early setback with an 87-run stand between Saud Shakeel and Mohammad Rizwan. But the latter poked at a harmless delivery down the leg side to hand the visitors the initiative just after the Lunch break.

Saud Shakeel, the 27-year-old debutant, showed tremendous application and willpower against a relentless bowling unit that threw pretty much everything at him. But just like his senior partner, Rizwan, he was trapped in England's ploy of bowling wide deliveries. England were in the ascendency but Pakistan hit back with another dogged stand between Azhar Ali and Agha Salman.

James Anderson and Ollie Robinson shone for England with the old ball

Ben Stokes tried his level best to break the partnership, even bowling himself for an astonishing 11 overs on the trot from one end, only to return empty-handed as Pakistan headed into the final session with a memorable win in sight. But like the earlier two sessions, England got the breakthrough just after the break as Ollie Robinson used the reverse swinging ball to great effect, getting rid of both the set batters in the space of three overs to dent Pakistani hopes.

With the win out of the equation, the hosts went into defense mode. But their resistance was short-lived as the veteran English pacer James Anderson scalped two wickets in one over to drag the visitors on the brink of a historic victory. Both Anderson and Robinson displayed great control and ability with the old ball that was reversing extravagantly on a flat Rawalpindi track and were rewarded with four wickets each. 

But the drama wasn't done there as the floodlights came on, handing the hosts a much-needed lifeline. Pakistan needed to survive just half an hour, while England needed just one wicket as the match turned into a cat-and-mouse game. But England's left-arm spinner Jack Leach, who was ineffective for much of the second innings, came up with the killer blow, trapping Naseem Shah plumb in front of the stumps, handing England a thrilling victory by 74 runs in the series opener.

Here is how Twitter reacted to England's sensational victory on a benign surface in Rawalpindi: