MULTAN: England were bowled out for 275 in their second innings on Sunday, with Pakistan set a target of 355 to win on the third day of the second Test in Multan.
Harry Brooke was the top scorer with 108 runs while Ben Duckett scored 79 runs. Meanwhile, Pakistan’s spinners Abrar Ahmed and Zahid Mehmood took seven wickets.
Debutant Abrar took 11 wickets in the match.
Earlier, on the third day in Multan, England had taken a lead of 300 runs against Pakistan. The tourists started the day with a lead of 281 as they eyed a series win.
At the end of the second day’s play, the visitors had scored 202-5 in their second innings on a turning pitch, with 25 wickets falling in two days, with Harry Brooke on 74 not out, alongside skipper Ben Stokes. 16.
Spinner Jack Leach took 4 for 98 as Pakistan were bowled out for 202, giving England a 79-run first innings lead and putting them in a strong position to win the Test series – 17 in Pakistan. It’s the first time in a year.
“I thought it was a nice day with 280, so looking forward to what tomorrow brings,” Leach said.
“We hope as many people can get it. We want 500 with Brooke and Stokes.”
In his second innings, England opener Ben Duckett scored an aggressive 79 before falling to spinner Abrar Ahmed, who took three wickets to add to his seven runs 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 only the second Pakistani bowler to take 10 or more wickets on debut since Mohammad Zahid’s 11-130 against New Zealand in 1996.
Brooke, who hit eight fours and a six, added 68 runs for the fourth wicket with Duckett.
Ahmed also had a hand in Zach Crowley’s dismissal for three runs, run out with a direct hit to mid-on as the batsman attempted a quick single.
‘Soft Termination’
In the morning session, Pakistan’s batsmen squandered a strong position as they resumed on 107-2 with captain Babar Azam and Shakeel looking to take a strong lead.
But once Azam was bowled by fast bowler Ollie Robinson for 75 in the seventh over of the day, the innings ended with seven wickets falling for just 37 runs.
“There were some soft layoffs and that pushed us back,” Shakeel said.
We need to bowl them out for a lead of 300-320 and since there is plenty of time, the result will come. We have chased such totals before.
Along with Leach, Root also had success with his looping off breaks, dismissing Agha Salman (four) and Muhammad Ali (none).
With lunch extended for the last wicket, Faheem Ashraf (22) and Ahmed (seven not out) put on 23 runs before Mark Wood broke the partnership.
Root’s figures were 2-23 and Wood’s 2-40.
Azam hit ten fours and a six and added 91 runs for the third wicket with Shakeel.
Leach induced Shakeel to play a high shot towards mid-on where James Anderson took a brilliant running catch, giving the spinner his 100th Test wicket.
England, on their first Test tour of Pakistan since 2005, lead the three-match series 1-0.
