Multan, Pakistan

Spinners Sajid Khan and Noman Ali picked up all 20 wickets among each other to help Pakistan win the second Test against England in Multan by 152 runs, levelling the three-match series 1-1. After going down horrendously in the first Test despite amassing 556 in the first innings, Pakistan made wholesome changes to their playing XI for the next game, which eventually favoured them. 

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Sajid and Noman were among the four changes to Pakistan’s XI for the second game at the same venue, with both putting up colossal efforts to revive the side’s chances of beating England in a Test series at home. 

Though debutant Kamran Ghulam slammed his maiden Test ton (118) in the first innings, with Saim Ayub and Salman Agha also impressing with the bat, the bowlers won the game for Pakistan. 

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The off-spinner Sajid picked up seven wickets in the first innings, and the left-arm orthodox Noman Ali returned with his career-best figures of eight for 46 in the second, wrapping England up on 144 in the chase of 297. It is also the second-best bowling figure for a Pakistani bowler against England in an inning in Tests and the third-best match figure.

Besides, this is the eighth instance in Test history when a pair bagged all 20 wickets, the second time for Pakistan after Fazal Mahmood and Khan Mohammad picked up 13 and seven wickets, respectively, against Australia during the Karachi Test in 1956.

Batting let England down

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Meanwhile, England failed to replicate their last game performance despite Captain Ben Stokes returning to the playing XI. Although opener Ben Duckett hit a hundred (114) in the first innings, the decorated pair of Joe Root and Harry Brook failed to cross the 50-run-mark across both innings. 

Sajid, the player of the match award for his overall performance, said, “We lost the last two series; we just backed our process. Thanks to the Multan crowd for all the support.

“Noman is one of the most experienced players, he shares his experience, and he's played everywhere. First innings, I got out early, and he scored. In the second innings, I batted below him and gave support to Salman,” he said after the game. 

However, for Shan Masood, who won his first Test as the Pakistan Test captain, this win was special in several ways.

“The first one is always special; it has come after some hard times. A lot has happened over the last week. You have to applaud the group. You can't doubt the effort. It'll be special for everyone. We were able to pick 20 wickets and post decent totals,” Masood reflected on the second Test win.

Meanwhile, Rawalpindi will host the final Test starting next Thursday (Oct 24).

(With inputs from agencies)