England have been in control of the second Test towards Pakistan in Multan on Saturday, main by 281 at stumps on day two as they eyed a series-clinching win. The guests have been 202-5 of their second innings on a turning pitch — which has seen 25 wickets fall in two days — with the stable Harry Brook 74 not out, accompanied by skipper Ben Stokes on 16. Earlier, spinner Jack Leach took 4 for 98 as Pakistan have been bundled out for 202, giving England a 79-run first-innings lead and placing them in a robust place to take the Test sequence — their first in Pakistan in 17 years.
“I thought it’s a pleasing day with 280 ahead, so looking forward to what tomorrow brings,” mentioned Leach.
“We just hope of getting as many as we can. We would like 500 with Brook and Stokes still in.”
In their second innings, England opener Ben Duckett hit an aggressive 79 earlier than he fell to spinner Abrar Ahmed, who took three wickets so as to add to his seven within the first innings. Will Jacks (4) and Joe Root (21) have been his different victims.
With 3-81 within the second innings thus far, Ahmed has change into the second Pakistani bowler to take 10 or extra wickets on debut, after Mohammad Zahid’s 11-130 towards New Zealand in 1996.
Brook, who hit eight fours and a six, added 68 for the fourth wicket with Duckett.
Ahmed additionally had a hand in Zak Crawley‘s dismissal for 3, working him out with a direct hit from mid-on because the batter tried a fast single.
‘Soft dismissals’
In the morning session, Pakistan’s batters wasted a robust place after they resumed at 107-2 with skipper Babar Azam and Shakeel seeking to construct a stable lead.
But as soon as Azam was bowled by quick bowler Ollie Robinson for 75 within the seventh over of the day, the innings collapsed with seven wickets falling for simply 37 runs.
“There were some soft dismissals and that pushed us back,” mentioned Shakeel.
“We need to get them out for a lead of 300-320 and since there is enough time, a result will come. We have chased such totals before.”
Along with Leach, Root additionally discovered success along with his looping off-breaks, dismissing Agha Salman (4) and Mohammad Ali (nought).
With lunch prolonged for the final wicket, Faheem Ashraf (22) and Ahmed (seven not out) held on for 23 runs earlier than Mark Wood broke the partnership.
Root had figures of 2-23 and Wood 2-40.
Azam hit ten boundaries and a six and added 91 for the third wicket with Shakeel.
Leach lured Shakeel into enjoying a lofted shot towards mid-on the place James Anderson held a sensible working catch, giving the spinner his one hundredth Test wicket.
England received the primary Test by 74 runs in Rawalpindi.
(This story has not been edited by NDTV workers and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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