Pakistan’s Historic Test Victory in Multan Against England
In a thrilling match in Multan, Pakistan ended their 11-match winless streak in Test cricket on home soil with a commanding 152-run victory over England. This win leveled the series at 1-1. The success marked Pakistan’s first Test win at home since February 2021, thanks to a strategic spin-heavy lineup.
Key Players and Strategies
Shan Masood, Pakistan’s Test captain, ended his six-match losing streak. Spinners Noman Ali and Sajid Khan were instrumental, taking all 20 wickets in the match. On Day 4, England needed 261 runs with eight wickets in hand. Sajid Khan quickly dismissed Ollie Pope, setting the tone for the day.
England attempted various sweep shots to counter the spin, but Pakistan’s bowlers maintained pressure with full-length deliveries. Joe Root’s attempt to sweep led to his dismissal, and despite efforts from Harry Brook and Ben Stokes, England struggled. Noman Ali’s strategic bowling reduced England to 78/5.
Match Highlights
Ben Stokes top-scored for England with 37 runs, but his efforts were not enough. Noman Ali’s spin bowling eventually cleared England’s tail, securing the victory. Earlier, Pakistan won the toss and chose to bat, with debutant Kamran Ghulam scoring a century, leading Pakistan to 366 runs. England responded with 291, thanks to Ben Duckett’s century. Pakistan’s tail end added crucial runs, setting a target of 297 for England, who fell short on the spin-friendly pitch.
Doubts Revealed
Multan -: Multan is a city in Pakistan. It is known for its rich history and cultural heritage. In this context, it is the place where the cricket match took place.
Test match -: A Test match is a type of cricket game that is played over five days. It is considered the longest and most traditional form of cricket.
Spinners -: Spinners are cricket bowlers who use their fingers or wrists to spin the ball. This makes the ball change direction when it bounces, making it harder for the batsman to hit.
Noman Ali and Sajid Khan -: Noman Ali and Sajid Khan are cricket players from Pakistan. They are known for their skills in spin bowling, which helped Pakistan win the match.
Ben Stokes -: Ben Stokes is a famous cricket player from England. He is known for his all-round abilities, meaning he is good at both batting and bowling.
Debutant -: A debutant is someone who is playing their first match in a particular level of sport. In this case, Kamran Ghulam was playing his first Test match for Pakistan.
Century -: In cricket, a century is when a batsman scores 100 runs or more in a single innings. It is considered a significant achievement.
