ENG vs PAK: 3rd Test – James Anderson’s 600th wicket dominates rain-affected draw

The fifth day of the third Test between England and Pakistan was another disappointing day for the series as the rain continued to eat out overs from the game. However, 25th August 2020 will still be a very special day in cricketing annals as James Anderson became the first pace bowler to take 600 Test wickets. He completed the landmark with the wicket of Azhar Ali as Joe Root took the catch at first slip.

Pakistan finished their follow-on innings 187/4 eventually as both the captains agreed to a draw. Babar Azam celebrated another Test fifty and finished on 63 not out. England pouched the Test series 1-0 as they had won the opening game. Zak Crawley was awarded as the Man of the Match for his double century. Jos Buttler was adjudged as England’s Man of the Series while Mohammad Rizwan received the same prize for Pakistan.

Anderson gets to 600

England slip cordon and wicketkeeper dropping catches saw a fuming Anderson finish the fourth day of the Test on 599 wickets. With a result appearing a distant conclusion, all eyes were on the pace bowler achieving his landmark wicket. The rain, as usual, played spoilsport and delayed the moment. It was in Pakistan’s 62nd over and Anderson’s 15th over that the dream realised. A short ball outside off-stump forced extracted Ali’s outside edge and Root completed a catch in the slip cordon to give Anderson his 600th dismissal. England’s leading wicket-taker has achieved this feat in his 156th Test appearance.

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Scorecard/Clips: https://t.co/fL9aifFjyV#ENGvPAK pic.twitter.com/jjNlyM1Ty6

— England Cricket (@englandcricket) August 25, 2020

World Test Championship

It proved to be a fruitful summer for the English side. They first defeated West Indies 2-1 and have now secured a 1-0 series victory over Pakistan. The draw in the third Test kept the English team away from becoming the second-ranked side in the World Test Championship. They currently have 292 points, just four short of Australia who are in the second place. India still hold a firm pole position with 360 points. Pakistan occupy the fifth place in the points table.