PAK vs ENG 2 Day3: Shakeel holds Pakistan’s spirit alive

PAK vs ENG 2 Day3: Ahead of Day 4 of the current 2nd Test versus England in Multan, Pakistan’s prospects were maintained by the fifty-plus scores of Saud Shakeel and Imam-ul-Haq. Pakistan was 198/4 at Stumps, with Shakeel batting undefeated at 54, and Imam being out a few overs prior to actually the end of the day’s action at 60. Previously, Rizwan, who moved higher in the order, and Abdullah Shafique scored 66 runs for the initial wicket for Pakistan on Day 3 until Anderson provided England with a success.

Imam-ul-Haq and Saud Shakeel confounded an England threat for the better part of 32 overs, which could have been boosted by a trio of excellent deliveries in the first 60 minutes after lunch. This prevented a hard-fought Pakistan race from reaching a thrilling 4th session and prevented the British side from clinching a historic series sweep.

PAK vs ENG 2 Day3: Imam’s wicket gave a break to the 107 run partnership

PAK vs ENG 2 Day3: However, Imam pushed into an extravagant shot out of the deep versus Jack Leach and scraped a quick outside to Joe Root at slip to collapse for Sixty and wrench the doorway ajar yet again as the darkness grew longer and England began to worry on a path through a stringent 107-run partnership for the 4th wicket.

Even if Saud Shakeel and Faheem Ashraf continued to bat till the finish, scoring 54 runs without being out, the matrix at wickets was straightforward. With Karachi left to play, England needs six additional wickets to grab a 2-0 advantage in the aggregate, or Pakistan needs 157 runs to tie the series at 1-1 with their second-highest accomplished Test run hunt of 355.

PAK vs ENG 2 Day3: Mohammad Rizwan promoted up in the order

It might have been an even more exciting day of Test cricket, with Pakistan’s late afternoon partnership emulating their exuberant introductory stances of 64 in 15 overs prior to actual lunch. Mohammad Rizwan and Abdullah Shafique, who moved to the starting position after Imam sent for a test for a hamstring strain, had batted at a quick pace of 4.27 an over.

Earlier to that, The English successfully finished their second innings on their own. With Harry Brook’s 2nd Test 100 serving as the game’s high point during a hurried hour of playing. During which they dropped their final five wickets for an additional 73 runs. Although there were still approximately nine sessions left in the Test. England’s strategy was reflective of their assumption that the ground still had much to offer their own bowling attack. And that by setting Pakistan a supposedly manageable target of 355. Much like their 342-run declaration in Rawalpindi, they would consist of all the better positioned to cause inaccuracies.

PAK vs ENG 2 Day3: Stokes’ masterclass for playing in Anderson late

And as also revealed in that initial Test. England has a secret weapon in James Anderson who is 20 years wiser, has starred in 177 Tests. And is just as exceptional as Abrar Ahmed was in his 11-wicket debut. Anderson had been noticeably missing in the early sequences both times. As Stokes kept his star player back to take advantage of a potential reverse swing. He instantly changed the outlook for the inning when he showed up for the opening over of the day.

The initial 4 balls of the session from Anderson were handled quite well, but the fifth. A full-length tensioning toss that slanted in at Rizwan and sliced viciously through his outer periphery to strike the top off, was just unreachable. Rizwan went to glance at the damage and perplexed. But he needed to hit 30 from 43 balls, and England’s starting position was 66 for 1.

Robinson strikes Babar Azam again

PAK vs ENG 2 Day3: Stokes promptly ordered Ollie Robinson to start making it an all-pace attack. While Leach was preparing to share the afternoon duties. He had also delivered a magic ball in the session’s 2nd over for him. Babar Azam, the skipper of Pakistan, forced to function cautiously against the great ball due to a glimpse of irregular float.

But Robinson alternatively hit the seam a comprehensive foot down the pitch. Babar, who appeared appreciative of being able to depart one. Might also do nothing but follow in disbelief as the ball glided back to strike the edge off as well. Pakistan’s session was over when they reached 83 for 3.

England pleased with the match situation

PAK vs ENG 2 Day3: Stokes, though, who is renowned for his patience to reserve pace bowlers for critical situations. Mainly relied on his spin bowlers with in-out fields. Luring the Pakistani side to hit it over the barrier of near fielders. Jack Leach was Stokes’ go-to batsman in the first innings once more. But with two left-handers setting him up, Leach took a beating, averaging 4.40 over the course of his 20 overs.

Stokes went beneath a drive to leg, but as Abrar would turn that beginning into more significant. Ali on the midwicket edge sprinted around for a well-timed catch. Although Wood nicked a quick leg break against Zahid Mahmood for slip. And Anderson dropped a reverse sweep to end the session. Robinson dropped a slog to leg side as Abrar dragged a googly past his wicket for his eleventh wicket. At that point and following lunch, England completely satisfied with its match scenario.

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