Pakistan’s Spin Triumph: Victory Over England in Multan
In a thrilling Test match in Multan, Pakistan ended their 11-match winless streak on home soil with a commanding 152-run victory over England, leveling the series at 1-1. This marked Pakistan’s first home Test win since February 2021. The team’s decision to rely on a spin-heavy lineup proved successful, ending Shan Masood’s six-match losing streak as Test captain.
Spin Magic in Multan
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. Despite England’s attempts to counter the spin with sweep shots, Pakistan’s spinners maintained pressure with precise deliveries.
England’s Struggle
Joe Root’s attempt to sweep ended in his dismissal, and although Harry Brook and Ben Stokes tried to rally, Noman Ali’s strategic bowling reduced England to 78/5. Stokes top-scored with 37 runs but was eventually outsmarted by Noman, who spun the ball past his defenses, leading to a stumping by Mohammed Rizwan.
Pakistan’s Batting Highlights
Earlier, Pakistan won the toss and chose to bat, with debutant Kamran Ghulam scoring a century, helping Pakistan reach 366. England responded with 291, thanks to Ben Duckett’s century. Pakistan’s tailenders added crucial runs, setting England a target of 297, which they couldn’t achieve on the spin-friendly pitch.
Pakistan’s victory in Multan was a significant morale boost as they head to Rawalpindi for the next match.
Doubts Revealed
Multan -: Multan is a city in Pakistan. It is known for its rich history and is often called the ‘City of Saints’ because of its many Sufi shrines.
Spin-heavy strategy -: A spin-heavy strategy in cricket means relying more on spin bowlers, who make the ball turn or spin on the pitch, making it difficult for batsmen to play.
Noman Ali and Sajid Khan -: Noman Ali and Sajid Khan are cricketers from Pakistan. They are known for their skills in spin bowling, which helped Pakistan win the match.
Sweep shots -: Sweep shots are a type of cricket shot where the batsman kneels and swings the bat horizontally to hit the ball, usually against spin bowlers.
Ben Stokes -: Ben Stokes is a famous cricketer from England. He is known for his all-round abilities, meaning he is good at both batting and bowling.
Debutant Kamran Ghulam -: A debutant is someone who is playing their first match. Kamran Ghulam is a Pakistani cricketer who scored a century, which means 100 runs, in his first match.
Home Test victory -: A home Test victory means winning a Test cricket match in your own country. Test matches are the longest form of cricket, lasting up to five days.