Yorkshire leg-spinner takes 5-64 in Pakistan second innings...
Tuesday 20 October 2015 16:26, UK
Sir Ian Botham hailed the 'magnificent' bowling of Adil Rashid after the leg-spinner took 5-64 to almost fire England to an unlikely victory on day five of the first Test against Pakistan.
A Rashid-inspired England bowled Pakistan out for 173 in their second innings before falling 25 runs short of their 99-run target when bad light intervened with the visitors 74-4.
"The guy can bowl," said Botham on Rashid. "It's just a matter of confidence and you can see how he grew as the game went on.
"He got a little bit of assistance in the second innings and you saw the ball drifting in, which told you he was getting a lot of action on it.
"He bowled magnificently. He will now take that momentum with him into the next game, which is not that far away.
"History tells you there should be a bit more assistance in Dubai. It can swing there for England's seamers, but it usually turns as well. So his timing is spot on."
Botham believes England now hold the advantage ahead of that second Test, with a lot of questions for Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq to answer.
"England are the ones that will walk away from this game with a lot more confidence," added Botham. "I don't see them making any changes. This side did well today and there is a great buzz around the team.
"Alastair Cook will be making a point of sitting those boys down in the dressing room and telling each and every one of them well done.
"The Pakistani batsmen meanwhile left a lot to desired and it just goes to show that if we're going to play on pitches that do a little bit, it's going to suit us as well as them.
"Their batting looks fragile, and that was exposed today when there was a little bit happening.
"It's all very well Misbah shaking his head at some of the other things that were going on, but he also needs to look at himself, being bowled the way he was. It was an awful shot under the circumstances.
"Same for Younus Khan. He seemed determined to try and hit Rashid out of the attack, but just ballooned up in the air.
"It was a great effort from England. They almost snatched it but were always going to up against it with the light fading. A noble effort."
Live coverage of the second Test between Pakistan and England starts at 6.30am, Thursday, Sky Sports 2. You can also watch without a contract on NOW TV.
