Pakistan celebrated a triumphant return to form on Friday, defeating England by 152 runs on the fourth morning of the second Test at Multan Cricket Stadium, leveling the three-match series at 1-1. This victory marked Pakistan’s first Test win since July 27, 2023, when they triumphed over Sri Lanka in Colombo, and their first home victory since February 2021 against South Africa.
Sajid Khan was named Player of the Match for his outstanding performance with the ball. After resuming their second innings at 36 for 2, England struggled against Pakistan’s spin attack, ultimately being bowled out for just 144 runs. Sajid Khan and Noman Ali led the charge, claiming all 20 English wickets, with Noman taking 8 for 46 and Sajid capturing 2 for 93.
England’s innings featured a top score of 37 from captain Ben Stokes, who struggled to anchor the innings. The batting lineup faltered against Pakistan’s spinners, with Ollie Pope (22), Joe Root (18), and Harry Brook (16) failing to make significant contributions. Pope fell early, caught off a return catch from Sajid, and Root’s lbw dismissal, despite a review, marked a turning point as Noman continued to wreak havoc.
Stokes, who had previously delivered match-defining performances, found himself in a challenging position and ultimately lost his wicket in an unfortunate manner, swinging his bat only for it to fly out of his hands, leading to a straightforward stumping by wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan.
Shan Masood Reflects on Victory
In his post-match comments, captain Shan Masood expressed gratitude for the win, noting, “Every cricket aficionado wishes for Pakistan to win a Test. We needed 20 wickets, and we grabbed them to secure the match.” He praised the contributions of Sajid and Noman, who were instrumental in achieving this much-needed victory.
Masood emphasized his commitment to maintaining this momentum in the upcoming Rawalpindi Test, acknowledging the disappointment of the previous series losses. “In some matches, we got close but couldn’t win,” he stated, indicating a determination to learn from past challenges.
Day Three Highlights
On day three, Pakistan set England a challenging target of 297 runs after declaring their second innings at 221 all out. Salman Agha played a pivotal role, scoring a brisk 63, while the English bowlers struggled to contain the Pakistani batsmen on a spin-friendly track.
England resumed their innings 261 runs behind but quickly found themselves in trouble, with opener Ben Duckett falling for a two-ball duck and Zak Crawley being stumped after misreading a delivery from Noman Ali.
As the match progressed, it became clear that Pakistan’s spin-heavy attack would pose significant challenges for England, leading to a thrilling finale in the upcoming third and final Test, starting Thursday in Rawalpindi.
