On day two of the second Test between England and Pakistan in Multan, England led by 281 runs at stumps, putting themselves in a position to win and take the series.
On day two of the second Test between England and Pakistan in Multan, England led by 281 runs and looked poised to take control of the three-match series. Despite losing 25 wickets in two days, the visitors were 202-5 in their second innings with Harry Brook (not out, 74) and Ben Stokes (not out, 16) leading the way. England is in a great position to win the Test series, which is their first in Pakistan in 17 years, as spinner Jack Leach took 4 for 98 as Pakistan was swept out for 202.
When asked about his day, Leach remarked, “I think it’s a pleasing day with 280 ahead, so looking forward to what tomorrow brings.”
“We basically want to collect as many as possible. Still having Brook and Stokes in the lineup, we’d like to place a 500 bid.”
Ben Duckett, England’s opening batsman, scored an aggressive 79 before being dismissed by spinner Abrar Ahmed, who finished with three wickets in England’s second innings to go along with the seven he had taken in the first. Other people, he killed include Will Jacks, age 4, and Joe Root, age 21.
So far in the second innings, Ahmed has taken three for eighty-one, making him the second Pakistani bowler to take 10 or more wickets on debut, after Mohammad Zahid’s 11 for 130 against New Zealand in 1996.
When batting alongside Duckett, Brook totaled 68 runs for the fourth wicket, including eight fours and a six.
Ahmed also contributed to Zak Crawley’s expulsion for three by running him out with a direct hit from mid-on as Crawley went for a quick single.
“Casual terminations”
After resuming at 107-2 with captain Babar Azam and Shakeel seeking to build a big lead, Pakistan’s batters squandered a strong position in the first session.
Azam’s dismissal for 75 off the bowling of fast bowler Ollie Robinson in the seventh over of the day signaled the beginning of the end for the innings, which saw seven wickets fall for a total of 37 runs.
Shakeel explained, “There were some soft dismissals, and it pushed us back.”
“Since we have plenty of time, we will be able to get them out for a lead of 300 to 320. We’ve gone for similar sums before.”
Like Leach, Root was able to eliminate Agha Salman (4) and Mohammad Ali with the aid of his off-break loops (naught).
Faheem Ashraf (22) and Ahmed (seven not out) managed to hang on for 23 runs after lunch was postponed for the last wicket before Mark Wood finally got them both out.
A 2-23 for Root and a 2-39 for Wood.
Azam and Shakeel put up 91 runs for the third wicket, with Azam contributing 10 fours and a six.
The spinner Leach took his 100th Test wicket when he enticed Shakeel into attempting a lofted ball toward mid-on, where James Anderson took a brilliant running catch.
England triumphed in the first Test in Rawalpindi by a score of 74 runs.
