Top 5 spells in England by Pakistani bowlers before Yasir Shah's match winning effort

#1 Fazal Mahmood: 6/53 and 6/46 at the Kennington Oval in August 1954

Fazal’s spells were remarkable on Pakistan’s first tour of England

Pakistan had made their Test debut against India in 1952 and a couple of years later were on their first tour to England. As expected, the four-match series was headed England’s way with the hosts having won the second match by a whopping innings and 129 runs.

Pakistan won the toss in the fourth Test at the Oval in London and elected to bat. After being bowled out for 133, things were looking rather bleak for the first time overseas tourists. It was then that the right-arm fast medium bowler Fazal put his hand up and took matters into his own hands.

Fazal broke through the English middle-order and finished with 6/53 while giving Pakistan a lead of 3 runs. That Pakistan collapsed again in the second innings for 164, did not help their cause. With a seeming gettable target of 168, the hosts were runaway favourites to clinch the series.

But Fazal had other ideas. Opening the bowling, he claimed his second six-for of the match to finish with incredible match figures of 12/99. The match was Pakistan’s greatest moment in their brief Test history at the time and was watched by record crowds.