Pakistan vs England, 2nd Test, Day 2: England take firm grip on 2nd Test

England have a firm grip on the 2^nd Test with a 281 run lead over the hosts, Pakistan, at the close of play on day two.

 

Match Summary

Pakistan vs England, 2nd Test, England tour of Pakistan

Pakistan 202/10 (62.5 ov)

England 281/10 (51.4 ov) & *202/5 (49 ov)

Day Break : Day 2 England lead by 281 runs

SCORECARD

Stumps on Day Two as England lead by 281 runs ??#PAKvENG | #UKSePK pic.twitter.com/uQzbIrejYl

— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) December 10, 2022

Match Report

England were in command of the second Test against Pakistan in Multan on Saturday, leading by 281 at stumps on day two as they eyed a series-clinching win.

The visitors were 202-5 in their second innings on a turning pitch -- which has seen 25 wickets fall in two days -- with the solid Harry Brook 74 not out, accompanied by skipper Ben Stokes on 16.

Earlier, spinner Jack Leach took 4 for 98 as Pakistan were bundled out for 202, giving England a 79-run first-innings lead and putting them in a strong position to take the Test series -- their first in Pakistan in 17 years.

"I thought it's a pleasing day with 280 ahead, so looking forward to what tomorrow brings," said 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 before he fell to spinner Abrar Ahmed, who took three wickets to add to his seven in the first innings. Will Jacks (four) and Joe Root (21) were his other victims.

With 3-81 in the second innings so far, Ahmed has become the second Pakistani bowler to take 10 or more wickets on debut, after Mohammad Zahid's 11-130 against New Zealand in 1996.

Brook, who hit eight fours and a six, added 68 for the fourth wicket with Duckett.

Ahmed also had a hand in Zak Crawley's dismissal for three, running him out with a direct hit from mid-on as the batter attempted a quick single.

 

- 'Soft dismissals' -

In the morning session, Pakistan's batters wasted a strong position after they resumed at 107-2 with skipper Babar Azam and Shakeel looking to build a solid lead.

But once Azam was bowled by fast bowler Ollie Robinson for 75 in the seventh over of the day, the innings collapsed with seven wickets falling for just 37 runs.

"There were some soft dismissals and that pushed us back," said 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 also found success with his looping off-breaks, dismissing Agha Salman (four) and Mohammad Ali (nought).

With lunch extended for the last wicket, Faheem Ashraf (22) and Ahmed (seven not out) held on for 23 runs before 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 playing a lofted shot toward mid-on where James Anderson held a smart running catch, giving the spinner his 100th Test wicket.

England won the first Test by 74 runs in Rawalpindi.

 

Match Stats

England Fall of wickets 1st Innings: 1-38 (Zak Crawley - 8.5 ov), 2-117 (Ben Duckett - 18.6 ov), 3-145 (Joe Root - 24.1 ov), 4-164 (Ollie Pope - 28.4 ov), 5-167 (Harry Brook - 30.5 ov), 6-228 (Ben Stokes - 42.3 ov), 7-231 (Will Jacks - 44.5 ov), 8-245 (Ollie Robinson - 47.3 ov), 9-245 (Jack Leach - 47.4 ov), 10-281 (James Anderson - 51.4 ov)

Pakistan Fall of wickets 1st Innings: 1-5 (Imam ul Haq - 2.2 ov), 2-51 (Abdullah Shafique - 13.3 ov), 3-142 (Babar Azam - 34.2 ov), 4-158 (Saud Shakeel - 45.5 ov), 5-165 (Mohammad Rizwan - 49.5 ov), 6-169 (Mohammad Nawaz - 51.6 ov), 7-169 (Agha Salman - 52.1 ov), 8-169 (Mohammad Ali-II - 52.5 ov), 9-179 (Zahid Mahmood - 56.1 ov), 10-202 (Faheem Ashraf - 62.5 ov)

England Fall of wickets 2nd Innings: 1-11 (Zak Crawley - 3.5 ov), 2-25 (Will Jacks - 6.6 ov), 3-79 (Joe Root - 20.2 ov), 4-147 (Ben Duckett - 35.2 ov), 5-155 (Ollie Pope - 37.5 ov)

Playing XIs

Pakistan: Imam ul Haq, Abdullah Shafique, Babar Azam (C), Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan (WK), Agha Salman, Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Zahid Mahmood, Abrar Ahmed, Mohammad Ali-II

England: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope (WK), Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (C), Will Jacks, Ollie Robinson, Jack Leach, Mark Wood, James Anderson

 

Match Details:

Date: Friday, December 9, 2022 05:00

Venue: Multan Cricket Stadium, Multan

Toss: England won the toss & elected to bat