Pakistan positioned themselves strongly to level the series in the second Test after a dominant performance against England on a challenging Multan pitch this Thursday. Spinner Sajid Khan emerged as the hero, removing both English openers.
Setting England a formidable target of 297, Sajid swiftly dismissed Ben Duckett for a duck while fellow spinner Noman Ali took out Zak Crawley for three, reducing England to 36-2 by the end of day three.
Batsmen Ollie Pope and Joe Root remained at the crease, unbeaten on 21 and 12, respectively, with England needing 261 more to win with two days of play remaining.
Earlier, Salman Agha’s crucial innings of 63 and Sajid’s 22 rescued Pakistan from a precarious 134-5. Their ninth-wicket partnership of 65 propelled Pakistan to a second-innings total of 221.
England’s spinners, Shoaib Bashir and Jack Leach, initially positioned the visitors for a win with figures of 4-66 and 3-67, respectively. However, England’s fielding lapses, including dropped catches of Agha at four and six, cost them dearly.
Ultimately, Brydon Carse and Matthew Potts dismissed Agha and Sajid, respectively, ending Pakistan’s second innings.
Pakistan, who scored 366 in their first innings, is trailing 1-0 in the three-match series after losing the first Test, also held in Multan.
Earlier, Sajid showcased his skills with a remarkable 7-111, marking his second five-wicket haul, as he spun through the England lineup on a pitch that favoured bowlers this time, unlike in the first Test.
