Watch- Salman Agha, Rizwan's Comedy Of Errors Saves Dan Lawrence In PAK vs ENG 1st Test

Dan Lawrence was saved by Rizwan, Salman in Headingley Test [Source: X]

England pushed Pakistan onto the back foot in the first Test match at Headingley, riding on valiant fifties from Jordan Cox, Harry Brook, Joe Root and Dan Lawrence. While Brook missed out on a well-deserved ton yet again at his home ground, Cox and Lawrence struck flamboyant half-centuries. 

Although Lawrence mostly looked fluent throughout his innings, the English batter had his heart in his mouth when Salman Ali Agha missed an opportunity to run him out following a chaotic appeal alongside wicket-keeper Mohammad Rizwan. 

Rizwan, Salman's appeal chaos saves Dan Lawrence

The incident occurred in the 62nd over of England's first innings when Dan Lawrence and Harry Brook had formed a steady partnership for the fifth wicket. Ali Usman was consistently troubling Lawrence, and Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha handed the ball to the left-arm spinner to bowl the 12th over of a long spell in a bid to break the stand. 

The battle between Usman and Dan Lawrence had an exciting start, as the English batter struck the Pakistani spinner for a boundary on the third delivery. Ali Usman followed it up with two consecutive dot balls before a full toss struck Lawrence on his front pad when the batter tried to nudge it through the leg side. 

As soon as Lawrence missed the flick, Mohammad Rizwan and Salman Ali Agha appealed for an LBW. While the umpire was unmoved, Lawrence was quite a few yards outside his crease and could've been run out at the striker's end. 

The ball rolled towards Salman Ali Agha, stationed at the first slip. But as he was busy appealing, Salman couldn't collect the ball and throw it towards the stumps in time. He was a tad late in picking the ball up, and when he threw it, Rizwan came in between and got hit on the back of his thigh. 

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Aug 21, 2026, 9:23 AM

Thus, Dan Lawrence benefited from the comedy of errors from Rizwan and Salman, getting ample time to make his way back into the crease and save his wicket. Although Pakistan went upstairs to challenge the on-field decision for the LBW appeal, the TV umpire upheld the call as the impact was outside the off-stump. 

Also Read: Pakistan Captain Salman Agha Suffers Injury, Walks Off The Field In 1st Test

Rizwan's lack of game awareness awarded two lifelines to Dan Lawrence

Notably, this was the second instance of Dan Lawrence getting saved by Pakistan's lack of game awareness. The first incident happened in the 56th over, coincidentally on the last ball, when Lawrence was struck on his pad after failing to execute a sweep shot. 

Pakistan's wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan was busy appealing for the LBW, while it was later revealed that the ball had deflected off Lawrence's bat after hitting his pad. Thus, had Rizwan stayed alert, he could've completed the catch in time and sent Lawrence back to the dugout. 

Pakistani fielding helps England claim the driving seat in Headingley Test

While Dan Lawrence received two lifelines due to the lack of game awareness from Salman Agha and Mohammad Rizwan, Harry Brook was saved by poor catching. 

When Brook was batting on 1, he edged one delivery off Khurram Shahzad only for the bowler to see Salman Agha putting the chance down and the ball rolling to the third-man fence for four runs. 

Thus, although the Pakistani bowlers, especially Ali Usman and Khurram Shahzad, created chances, their fielding unit disappointed them with poor efforts. This could prove decisive, as England have already mounted a lead of 195 runs with two wickets to spare in the Headingley Test. 

Also Read: List Of Test Series Wins By Bangladesh Before Australia Tour 2026