On this day, Pakistan recorded their first Test win against India

October 26 is a very important day for cricket in the subcontinent. On this day, in 1952, Pakistani bowler Fazal Mahmood bowled his national team to its first ever Test cricket win by beating India by an innings and 43 runs in at the University Ground Lucknow. It was just their second match in the five-Test series. What’s more interesting is the pitch it was played on – a jute-matting wicket. The Pakistani team took full advantage of the surface the match was played to beat India for their maiden Test win.

The series began at the Ferozshah Kotla, Delhi, where India beat the visitors. The next Test was then played at the Lucknow ground where the final wicket fell on the fourth day and thus Pakistan recorded their first ever Test match win in only their second Test match.

Led by Abdul Hafeez Kardar, the win was mainly made possible due to Fazal Mahmood’s outstanding performance. He took a total of 12 for 94.

The final scores read: India 106 (Pankaj Roy 30; Fazal Mahmood 5 for 52) and 182 (Datta Gaekwad 32, Polly Umrigar 32, Lala Amarnath 61*; Fazal Mahmood 7 for 42) lost to Pakistan 331 (Nazar Mohammad 124*; Ghulam Ahmed 3 for 83) by an innings and 43 runs.