Pakistan secured a 152-run lead over England but faltered in their second innings, stumbling to 77-4 by lunch on day three of the second Test at Multan Cricket Stadium on Thursday.
Off-spinner Sajid Khan was the star for Pakistan in England’s first innings, claiming seven wickets to dismiss the visitors for 291. The hosts had earlier managed a first-innings lead of 75 runs on a spinning track where run-scoring proved difficult.
England, determined to stay in the contest, relied heavily on their spin attack. Shoaib Bashir, England’s off-spinner, struck three crucial blows, putting Pakistan on the back foot. Bashir first removed opener Abdullah Shafique for four runs, courtesy of a successful review that revealed a faint edge. He then dismissed captain Shan Masood for 11, who edged a catch to Ollie Pope at second slip. Just before lunch, Bashir claimed his third wicket, sending Saim Ayub packing for 25, again caught by Pope.
At lunch, Saud Shakeel (10*) and Mohammad Rizwan (0*) were at the crease, with Pakistan’s lead standing at 229, but four wickets down.
Earlier in the day, England resumed their first innings at 239-6, losing their remaining four wickets in the first hour to Pakistan’s spin-heavy attack. Left-arm spinner Noman Ali mopped up three of the last four wickets, as England collapsed entirely to spin, with Pakistan’s Aamir Jamal the only seamer in the lineup.
Playing XI:
Pakistan: Saim Ayub, Abdullah Shafique, Shan Masood (captain), Kamran Ghulam, Saud Shakeel (vice-captain), Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Salman Ali Agha, Aamir Jamal, Noman Ali, Sajid Khan, Zahid Mehmood.
England: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (captain), Jamie Smith (wk), Brydon Carse, Matt Potts, Jack Leach, Shoaib Bashir.
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