In a dramatic turn of events, Pakistan leveled the three-match Test series against England with a commanding 152-run victory in the second Test at Multan. The decisive moment came on a worn pitch, where spinners Noman Ali and Sajid Khan orchestrated England’s collapse, bowling them out for a mere 144 on the fourth morning.
Pakistan had set England a challenging target of 297 on a surface offering sharp turn and unpredictable bounces. Noman Ali, the left-arm spinner, was the star of the show, claiming remarkable figures of 8-46 in the second innings, finishing the match with 11 wickets overall. Sajid Khan, Pakistan’s off-spinner, also played a pivotal role with match figures of 9-111, making it only the seventh instance in Test history where two bowlers shared all 20 wickets.
England reached 211-2 in their first innings, boosted by an outstanding century from Ben Duckett, providing some hope despite the overwhelming task ahead of them. However, England trailed by 75 runs after the first innings after collapsing at 8-80 against Sajid and Noman’s constant spin pressure. Salman Agha’s tenacious 63 helped Pakistan post 221 in their second innings, capitalizing on this advantage and setting England up for a difficult chase.
The chase unraveled quickly on day four. Ollie Pope’s early dismissal set the tone, and England’s middle-order fell to Noman’s unerring accuracy. Notably, Joe Root and Harry Brook were both dismissed playing across the line, while Ben Stokes’ aggressive approach failed to alter the course of the match. By the end of the innings, Noman and Sajid bowled uninterrupted for 33.3 overs, the longest stretch by two bowlers in a completed Test innings since 1956.
Key Changes and Pakistan’s Gamble on Spinners
Pakistan entered this Test under heavy scrutiny after suffering an inning defeat in the first Test, which extended their winless streak at home to 11 matches. The selection committee made bold changes, omitting captain Babar Azam and star pacers Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah, choosing instead to focus on spin. Their decision to reuse the same pitch from the first Test raised eyebrows, but it paid off when they won the toss and made full use of the turning conditions.
Kamran Ghulam, stepping in for Babar, rose to the occasion with a maiden Test century, guiding Pakistan to a competitive total of 366 in the first innings. Sajid Khan’s late strikes on day two began England’s downfall, and Noman’s mastery of the conditions ensured Pakistan dominated the rest of the game. The combination of spinners and a slow, dusty pitch left England with little chance to recover.
England’s Missed Opportunities
England will reflect on key moments that could have turned the match in their favor. After reducing Pakistan to 331-8 in their first innings, they allowed Salman Agha to forge vital partnerships with the tail. England also missed two crucial chances in Pakistan’s second innings when both Jamie Smith and Joe Root dropped Agha off consecutive deliveries from Brydon Carse. Those misses allowed Agha to reach 63, pushing Pakistan’s lead out of reach.
Despite these setbacks, England’s approach under captain Ben Stokes remained positive, with a clear intent to attack Pakistan’s spinners. Duckett’s century was a highlight, and both Matthew Potts and Brydon Carse put in commendable efforts as seamers in conditions that heavily favored spin. However, the lack of a sustained middle-order response and the collapse in the final innings left them with too much to do.
Series Set for Decisive Showdown in Rawalpindi
With the series now tied 1-1, attention turns to the third and final Test in Rawalpindi, starting on 24 October. The change of venue offers both teams a fresh challenge, though Pakistan will likely continue to rely on their spinners given the success in Multan. England, meanwhile, will need to regroup and find a strategy to counter the spin threat if they are to clinch the series.
Final Scorecard
Pakistan: 366 & 221
England: 291 & 144
Pakistan won by 152 runs
Player of the Match: Sajid Khan
Key Performances
Kamran Ghulam: Century on debut (118)
Noman Ali: 8-46 (second innings), 11 wickets in the match
Sajid Khan: 7-111 (first innings), 9 wickets in the match
Ben Duckett: Century for England (114)
As the teams head to Rawalpindi, both Pakistan’s spinners and England’s resilient mindset will be key to determining who takes home the series win. Stay tuned for the action-packed series decider!
Masood’s Post-Match Comments:
Masood expressed his satisfaction and joy after Pakistan’s much-needed victory, emphasizing how special it was for the team, especially given the challenges they had faced in recent weeks. He praised the collective effort of the team, acknowledging how every player contributed, particularly in executing a strategy that allowed Pakistan to take 20 wickets. After a difficult run of form and the setback of the first Test, the changes made to the team—including playing two spinners—proved to be the key difference. Masood highlighted the resilience and hunger of his players, singling out Noman Ali and Sajid Khan for their stellar performances. He also praised the efforts of Kamran Ghulam, who made a century on debut under immense pressure, and Agha Salman, who played crucial innings for the team.
Masood’s remarks underscored how important it is for a team to work together, support each other, and stay focused even in challenging conditions. He acknowledged the pressure Kamran Ghulam faced as he replaced a top batter but noted that the team stood firmly behind him.
Stokes’ Post-Match Reflection:
England captain Ben Stokes acknowledged that despite the conditions, they wouldn’t change their approach. He praised **Ben Duckett** for showing how to tackle the Pakistani spinners with his century and emphasized the importance of applying pressure to spin bowling. Stokes admitted that crucial moments, like dropping Agha Salman twice, proved costly, but he stood by his team’s overall effort. He also lauded fast bowlers Matthew Potts and Brandon Carse for their tireless spells, especially in the heat, saying their determination and energy created the atmosphere needed for the spinners to shine.
Stokes noted that England had found ways to manage the spin threat at times but could have capitalized better on their starts. Overall, he expressed pride in the team’s attitude and looked forward to the final Test, acknowledging that it’s been an exciting and hard-fought series so far.
Sajid Khan | Player of the Match:
“After losing the last two series, we stayed committed to our process, and it finally paid off. A big shoutout to the amazing Multan crowd for their unwavering support. Noman is one of the most seasoned players in our squad, and his experience is invaluable to all of us. He’s been everywhere and seen it all. In the first innings, I took the wickets, and in the second, he stepped up and got the job done. We worked really well as a team. I got out early in the first innings, and Noman stepped in with the bat. In the second innings, I batted after him, and my role was to support Agha bhai, who played one of the finest innings I’ve seen. Kami (Kamran Ghulam) was brilliant on debut, and I’m thrilled for him—he’s not just a great player but also one of my closest friends. Congratulations to him!”
Also Read:Sajid Khan Spins Pakistan to Commanding Position in 2nd Test.
Two Bowlers Claiming All 20 Wickets in a Test Match:
- M Noble (13) & H Trumble (7) vs. ENG, Melbourne, 1902
- C Blythe (11) & G Hurst (9) vs. AUS, Birmingham, 1909
- B Vogler (12) & A Faulkner (8) vs. ENG, Johannesburg, 1910
- J Laker (19) & T Lock (1) vs. AUS, Manchester, 1956
- F Mahmood (13) & Khan Mohammad (7) vs. AUS, Karachi, 1956
- B Massie (16) & Denis Lillee (4) vs. ENG, Lord’s, 1972
- Sajid Khan (9) & Noman Ali (11) vs. ENG, Multan, 2024
This marks the first instance since 1987 that two Pakistani spinners have each taken a five-wicket haul in the same Test match, and it is the seventh occurrence overall for Pakistan.
Best Figures for a Pakistan Spinner in Test Matches:
- 9/56 : Abdul Qadir vs. ENG, Lahore, 1987
- 8/41: Yasir Shah vs. NZ, Dubai, 2018
- 8/42: Sajid Khan vs. BAN, Mirpur, 2021
- 8/46: Noman Ali vs. ENG, Multan, 2024*
- 8/164: Saqlain Mushtaq vs. ENG, Lahore, 2000
Best Match Figures for PAK vs. ENG:
- 13/101: Abdul Qadir, Lahore, 1987
- 12/99: Fazal Mahmood, The Oval, 1954
- 11/147: Noman Ali, Multan, 2024*
- 11/234: Abrar Ahmed, Multan, 2022
Best Innings Figures for PAK vs. ENG:
- 9/56 : Abdul Qadir, Lahore, 1987
- 8/46: Noman Ali, Multan, 2024*
- 8/164: Saqlain Mushtaq, Lahore, 2000
Best Figures at Multan in a Test Innings:
- 8/46: Noman Ali vs. ENG, 2024*
- 7/111: Sajid Khan vs. ENG, 2024*
- 7/114: Abrar Ahmed vs. ENG, 2022
- 6/42: Danish Kaneria vs. BAN, 2001
