Spin-duo earns Pakistan 152-runs victory against England

MULTAN: Pakistan Cricket Team breaks a winless run at home after claiming a resounding 152 runs victory against England in the second Test match at Multan Cricket Stadium on Friday.

Chasing 297 for victory, England bowled out for 144 on the fourth day with a spin duo — Noman Ali grabbing 8-46 and Sajid Khan taking 2-93.

The spinners shinned for the Shan Masood-led side as Noman Ali finished with a maiden ten-wicket haul in the match with 11-147. Similarly, Sajid Khan spin traps the English batters, downing 7 in the first inning and 2 in the second with a figure of figures of 9-204. This is only the second time in Pakistan’s history that two bowlers took all 20 wickets in a Test.

Resuming at 36-2 and facing a tough task on a pitch offering sharp spin, England managed to add just 108 runs before folding. In just the second over of the day Sajid removed Ollie Pope with a sharp turning delivery and caught the miscued drive off his own bowling. Pope made 22.

Noman then trapped Joe Root leg-before for 18 and Harry Brook for 16 to leave England facing defeat at 78-5.

Brook smashed an epic 317 and Root a brilliant 262 — eclipsing Alastair Cook’s England Test run record — in the first Test, and their dismissals signalled England’s doom was approaching.

Noman’s fourth wicket came in the form of Jamie Smith whose uppish slog sweep was held by Masood at mid-on. Smith scored six.

Skipper Ben Stokes and Brydon Carse fought hard to take the total to 125 when Stokes was stumped in a comical manner, jumping out of the crease to loft Noman but missing the ball as his bat flew out of his hands.

Noman wrapped up the match with the wickets of Carse (27), Jack Leach (one) and Shoaib Bashir (nought), improving his previous best of 7-70 against Sri Lanka in Colombo last year.

Pakistan’s ploy of dropping ace batsman Babar Azam in one of four changes after the first Test defeat and playing on a reused pitch with three spinners paid off handsomely.

It was Pakistan’s first home win since February 2021 and came after they were thumped by an innings in the first Test, also in Multan. Pakistan’s last Test win at home came against South Africa in Rawalpindi more than three years ago. It was followed by 11 home Tests without a win.

This also becomes Shan Masood’s first win as skipper after getting the job last year, including 3-0 and 2-0 whitewashes at the hands of Australia and Bangladesh.

The third and final Test starts in Rawalpindi from October 24.