Pakistan made a stunning comeback in the second Test to defeat England by 152 runs in Multan, leveling the series 1-1. The hosts bounced back from an innings defeat in the first Test with a bold decision to stack their side with spinners, and it paid off spectacularly. Sajid Khan and Noman Ali combined to take all 20 wickets, leading Pakistan to their first Test win at home in 11 matches.
Match Summary:
- Pakistan: 366 & 221
- England: 291 & 144
- Result: Pakistan won by 152 runs
- Player of the Match: Sajid Khan (9 wickets in the match)
First Innings:
Pakistan made a solid start to the match, with debutant Kamran Ghulam leading the way with a gritty century (102). His efforts, along with handy contributions from the middle order, took Pakistan to 366. England responded well, with Ben Duckett notching a fine century (118), but Sajid Khan’s late strikes ensured that England fell 75 runs short of Pakistan’s total, getting bowled out for 291.
Second Innings:
In the second innings, Pakistan batted aggressively and posted 221, setting England a target of 297. Agha Salman played a crucial role, scoring a composed fifty (63) and shepherding the tail well, ensuring Pakistan set a competitive target on a turning track.
Final Day – England’s Chase:
England, resuming at 48/2 and needing 261 more to win, found themselves in early trouble as Sajid Khan removed Ollie Pope in the second over of the day. From there on, it was the Noman Ali show. The left-arm spinner ran through England’s middle order, exploiting the turning conditions perfectly. Ben Stokes top-scored for England with a fighting 43, sweeping and reverse-sweeping the spinners in a valiant attempt to keep his team in the hunt.
However, Stokes’ dismissal, stumped while charging down the track to Noman Ali, marked the beginning of the end for England. Brydon Carse provided some late entertainment with three towering sixes, but England were bowled out for 144, falling well short of the target.
Post-Match Reactions:
Masood | Pakistan Captain:
“This victory is special, it has come after some hard times. The spinners were brilliant, Sajid and Noman looked like seasoned campaigners out there. Kamran Ghulam’s debut century was special, and Agha Salman’s contribution was vital. It was a true team effort.”
Stokes | England Captain:
“Full credit to Pakistan, they outplayed us. We had our moments, but we couldn’t capitalize on them. Sajid and Noman bowled exceptionally well. We will have to regroup and look forward to the decider.”
Sajid Khan | Player of the Match:
“It’s been a collective team effort. Noman and I shared the workload, and it clicked. The crowd support was amazing, and this win feels great. Credit to Agha and Kamran for their crucial contributions with the bat.”
Key Stats:
- Noman Ali (11/147) and Sajid Khan (9/102) became the first Pakistani spin duo since 1987 to take a five-wicket haul each in the same Test match.
- Noman Ali’s 8/46 is the second-best bowling performance by a Pakistan spinner in Test history against England.
- Kamran Ghulam’s century on debut (102) helped Pakistan post a competitive total in the first innings.
- Sajid Khan became the Player of the Match for his combined figures of 9 wickets in the match.
Conclusion:
Pakistan’s decision to go spin-heavy proved decisive as Sajid Khan and Noman Ali tore through England’s batting lineup in both innings. Pakistan’s collective effort with the bat and ball set up a memorable win to level the series. The final Test in Rawalpindi promises to be a thrilling decider, as both teams look to claim the series victory.
For more in-depth analysis and to follow the action, tune into Vegas11 with Arjun and the team for expert commentary and insights. The battle between Pakistan and England continues in Rawalpindi on October 24.