Sajid's spin leaves England in a bind with 18 balls and 4 wickets down.

 Sajid's spin leaves England in a bind with 18 balls and 4 wickets down.

It’s only the second day of the match, but with five days of the first Test played on the same pitch, it resembles a seventh-day wicket. The impact of spinners was evident today in Multan.

 

By day’s end, Pakistan had claimed 4 wickets from England in just 18 balls, leaving England at 239 for 6, under the relentless attack of off-spinner Sajid Khan and leg-spinner Noman Ali. Pakistan, trailing 1-0 in the three-match series, leads by 127 runs after two days.

 

England began their innings aggressively in the second session, with Jack Crawley and Ben Duckett putting together 73 runs in the first 12 overs. Noman struck first, dismissing Crawley after a successful review. At 125 runs, Sajid removed Ollie Pope, and despite losing two wickets, Duckett and Joe Root kept the runs flowing. By the end of the 41st over, England was 210 for 2.

 

However, Sajid initiated a batting collapse with Root’s wicket in the third ball of the 42nd over. Root, who scored 34 off 54, was bowled while attempting a sweep. In the following over, Sajid caught Duckett at first slip. Duckett, who notched his fourth Test century, scored 114 runs off 129 balls, featuring 16 fours. Sajid then claimed Harry Brook as his fourth victim on the final ball of the same over; Brook managed just 9 runs after scoring a triple century in the first Test.

 

The wickets kept tumbling, as Noman dismissed Ben Stokes, who was returning after two months, caught at short leg. England’s score plummeted from 211 for 2 to 225 for 6. Jamie Smith and Braydon Kars held firm for the last eight overs, leaving England at 239 runs at the close of play.

 

Earlier, Pakistan began the day at 295 for 5 and added 71 runs in 33.3 overs.

 

Summary Score: (End of Day 2)

 

• Pakistan 1st innings: 366 in 123.3 overs (Kamran 118, Saim 77, Rizwan 41, Amer 37, Noman 32; Leach 4/114, Curran 3/50, Potts 6/66).
• England 1st innings: 239/6 in 53 overs (Duckett 114, Root 34, Pope 29; Sajid 4/86, Noman 2/75).