PAK vs ENG Day4: The frantic tempo of a frantic game. It’s the tool that England has been pleading for during their years of futility on merciless subcontinent tracks — that point of differentiation to free up well-positioned hitters and provide opportunities for success.
In the 2nd session of the second Test in Multan, Pakistan barely managed to score 328 runs while pursuing a mark of 355. With 94 runs, Saud Shakeel topped the hitting for the home team. Imam-ul-Haq (60), Mohammad Nawaz (45), and Abdullah Shafique (45) all contributed significant runs. With the loss in the second Test, Pakistan has now lost the three-match Test series 0-2, with one game remaining. Mark Wood was the best bowler for the English, recording 4/65 in his performance.
PAK vs ENG Day4: Ollie Robinson takes the Player of the match award
PAK vs ENG Day4: As Pakistan’s last man Mohammad Ali scraped a delicate tip through to Ollie Pope to complete England’s first series victory in the nation in 22 years, the honor of capturing the ultimate wicket fell to Ollie Robinson, who was also named Player of the Match in Rawalpindi. And since the commencement of the Ben Stokes leadership tenure, they have won 8 out of 9 tests.
However, it was Wood’s final score of 4 for 65 that decided the match. Precisely, it was his two crucial dismissals in the last few overs prior to lunch that broke a strong sixth-wicket partnership respectively Saud Shakeel and Mohammad Nawaz, which had appeared to be on track to produce a breathtaking series-leveling performance for much of the opening session.
PAK vs ENG Day4: Saud and Nawaz couldn’t bring triumph to their team
Shakeel served as the sheeting foundation while Nawaz brought the assault back to England’s bowlers, resulting in a lightning collaboration of 80 runs in 21.5 overs that lowered the required score far into the dual statistics. But in the course of six Wood pitches, both players were struck out by short balls that went down the leg side.
Wood was delivering with a specific strategy in mind, seeking to bring his leg-side catchers into play and get his bouncers as directly into the body as they could. Perhaps there wasn’t really a need to gratify him, but even the most stable people can get unsettled by the dynamics of actual speed.
When the final session began, Abrar was in the mindset to push his side over the finish line.
PAK vs ENG Day4: Mark Wood takes 4 wickets haul
He first drove James Anderson over the middle stump for four prior to actually utilizing Wood’s tempo into him to score three more runs in 4 balls, along with a slim ramp through the backward point. Abrar, though, managed to flay Anderson through the off-side and hit Duckett at short cover to shift the balance once again with 17 off of 11 balls.
Agha Salman, Pakistan’s final acknowledged hitter. Thought that risking his arm while the fielding was up was his best option given the requirement for 45 runs. Multiple times he smashed back-to-back boundaries, the first time off Anderson and the second time off a worn-out Wood. But twice, England responded with the absolute first ball in their subsequent over. First, Wood destroyed Zahid Mahmood’s off stump, leaving Pakistan 36 runs behind, and lost nine wickets.
50th test wickets for Joe Root
PAK vs ENG Day4: Then Robinson, returning for the initial ball of a fresh period. Delivered the flawless form and measure that has been synonymous with him throughout the tour. Although Ali examined the ball, believing it to have brushed his cushion. The replay revealed a significant snick off his tip too. Another tense 4th inning which had been hanging. In the line from the outset of the day ended in a desperate finale.
Pakistan had begun on their overnight score of 198 for 4, still a challenging but doable 157 away. With triumph or bust looming for both squads, however, it was Englishmen who initiated the day’s first move. At 210 for 5, England was gradually taking the lead. It was Root’s 50th Test wicket. Earning him just the 3rd player in the record to amass 10,000 runs and 50 wickets. After taking in Faheem Ashraf moved forward at his usual round-the-wicket lin. For Zak Crawley to scoop up a superb opportunity. At point as the ball curved and contacted the arm of the bat.
English bowlers dominated the Pak batsmen
PAK vs ENG Day4: Root was first selected by Stokes for a sharing of the new ball in the hopes that his round-arm off-breaks would slide on a little quicker. However, Nawaz turned the tables on him by putting up a pair of proactive barriers. Which led Anderson to re-enter the fight.
As the threat at the other end increased, he quickly forced Shakeel into a short edge for four past the cordon. Which may have convinced the batsman that getting rid of the spinners was now Pakistan’s best move. After 2 different balls, Nawaz flipped to Pope, reopening England’s path to win. Only their 4th in far more than sixty years of Tests on Pakistani soil. And their first sequence triumph following Nasser Hussain’s success in the pitch-black in Karachi, the site of next week’s decider. 22 years ago, there would be no depriving Wood’s team a truly resounding victory.
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