MULTAN: Pakistan spinners Sajid Khan and Noman Ali took one wicket each to leave England struggling at 36-2 while chasing 297 at Stumps on Day 3 of the ongoing second Test here on Thursday.
The hosts got a brilliant start as Sajid Khan dismissed Ben Duckett, who scored a century in the first innings, on the third ball of the innings. Meanwhile, Zak Crawley (3) fell prey to Noman Ali with 11 runs on the board.
Ollie Pope (21*) and Joe Root (12*) joined hands to launch England’s recovery, dragging the total to 36-2 at Stumps.
Earlier, Pakistan were bundled for 221 in the final session on the third day with Salman Ali Agha top-scoring with 63. For England, Shoaib Bashir took four, while Jack Leach claimed three wickets.
Saud Shakeel was the first wicket to fall in the final session, leaving Pakistan struggling at 145-6.
Pakistan lost two more wickets before Sajid Khan (22) joined Salman and stitched a crucial partnership of 65 runs for the ninth wicket pushing the team’s total to 221. However, they both fell in successive overs while Zahid Mahmood remained unbeaten without scoring.
The hosts scored 134-5 at Tea with Saud Shakeel and Salman Ali Agha on the crease at 30* and 12* respectively.
Kamran Ghulam (26) and Saud Shakeel recorded a 34-run stand for the fourth wicket before Jack Leach got rid of the former.
Saud was joined by Mohammad Rizwan, who scored 23, and together they pushed the total to 114 before Brydon Carse struck and sent the wicket-keeper back to the pavilion.
Salman Ali Agha came out to bat at number seven and he, along with Saud, ensured that Pakistan went to Tea without any further damage.
Pakistan started their second innings with a 75-run lead, however, the start mirrored their first innings performance as the hosts lost two wickets for 25 runs.
Saim Ayub played a 22-run knock before he became the third scalp of Shoab Bashir on the last ball before Lunch.
England resumed their first innings at 239/6 on the third day with Jamie Smith (12*) and Brydon Carse (2*) at the crease.
However, they could only add nine runs in the morning before Sajid Khan removed Carse. The off-spinner soon removed Matthew Potts (6) while Smith fell prey to Noman after scoring 21.
Jack Leach played a crucial unbeaten knock of 25 runs, adding 29 runs for the last wicket with Shoaib Bashir (9) before Sajid wrapped up the innings with the latter’s dismissal.
Sajid claimed figures of 7-111 while Noman bagged three wickets for 101 runs.
Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel
Yesterday, Duckett dominated the third session of the second day as he knitted a 52-run stand with Ollie Pope (29) before the latter was cleaned up by Sajid Khan with a sharply spun delivery.
In-form Joe Root joined Duckett and together they attacked Pakistan’s bowling attack with their aggressive strokeplay, raising 86 runs from 108 balls for the third wicket.
However, Sajid Khan brought Pakistan back into the game with three quick wickets to leave England reeling at 225-5.
Sajid castled Root, who made 34 off 54. In his next over, the off-spinner ended Duckett’s stellar knock at 114, during which he conceded 129 balls. Duckett struck 16 boundaries during his innings.
Harry Brook also fell prey to Sajid five balls later, meanwhile, Noman Ali dismissed England captain Ben Stokes (1) in the next over.
The visitors slipped from 211-2 to 225-6, courtesy of disciplined bowling by Pakistani spinners on the supportive track in Multan.
Jamie Smith and Brydon Carse joined hands after the collapse, playing defensively as they took 52 balls to score 14 runs to close the day at 239-6.
Earlier, England opening batters Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett gave the visitors a flying start, scoring 69 runs in the first ten overs. Noman Ali removed Crawley, who was playing on 27, to break the 73-run opening stand right before the Tea.
Debutant Kamran Ghulam top-scored with 118 runs during Pakistan’s first innings, where they were bowled out for 366.
Jack Leach topped the wicket-takers chart for England with four wickets, while Brydon Carse and Matthew Potts took three and two wickets respectively.
It’s worth noting that England are leading the three-match series 1-0 after thumping Pakistan by an innings and 47 runs in the first match at the same venue.
Pakistan made four changes to their Playing XI while England made two changes. The hosts replaced Babar Azam, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah and Abrar Ahmed with Kamran Ghulam, Sajid Khan, Noman Ali and Zahid Mahmood.
Meanwhile, England replaced Chris Woakes and Gus Atkinson with captain Ben Stokes and Matthew Potts.
Pakistan’s Playing XI: Saim Ayub, Abdullah Shafique, Shan Masood (c), Kamran Ghulam, Saud Shakeel (vc), Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Salman Ali Agha, Aamir Jamal, Noman Ali, Sajid Khan, Zahid Mahmood.
England’s Playing XI: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (c), Jamie Smith (wk), Brydon Carse, Matt Potts, Jack Leach, Shoaib Bashir.
READ: Joe Root could break 16000-run barrier in Test cricket: Alastair Cook