Fighting to save his Test spot, England wicketkeeper-batsman Jos Buttler produced a brilliant knock of 75 in the fourth innings to help his team chase down the stiff target of 277 in the series opener against Pakistan at Old Trafford.

England had slumped to 117-5 in the chase but Buttler and Chris Woakes (84 not out) added 139 runs for the sixth wicket to guide the hosts over the line.  

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After the game, Buttler admitted that he may have played his last Test if not for this knock.

"Thoughts go through your head that if I don't score any runs, I've maybe played my last game. But you have to shut those out and go and play your game," Buttler told reporters in the post-match press conference.

Sharing their thought process during the partnership, Buttler said he and Woakes approached it like a one-day game.

"We tried to break it down into a bit of a one-day chase, and scored at four an over, to take the second new ball out of the equation. We got some nice momentum going and had a good partnership," he stated.

Buttler also had to deal with the fact that his father was admitted to hospital on Friday (August 7), although he has since been discharged.

England captain Joe Root was also elated to see Buttler play a crucial knock in difficult circumstances.

"It says a huge amount about him as a person to carry all of that and be able to either use it, or park it," said Root. "Only he will know which way he did that.

"It shows how mentally strong he is more than anything, but also how skilful. One of Jos' big traits is when he's under pressure he puts in big performances. He can deal with high-pressure."

The second Test of the three-match series will be played at Southampton, starting August 13.

(With AFP inputs)