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October 21, 2024
England Loses Both Openers in Chase for 297 in Second Multan Test
England’s chase for a challenging target of 297 runs in the second Test in Multan started poorly, losing both openers early. Sajid Khan, with his lively personality and impressive performance, played a crucial role in Pakistan’s strong position. After taking seven wickets in the first innings, he contributed vital runs with the bat, setting England a daunting challenge.
Sajid, who had been overlooked in team selection, quickly made an impact by dismissing Ben Duckett, who scored a century earlier in the match and was key to England’s hopes. Despite being an unassuming off-spinner, Sajid’s enthusiasm and colorful celebrations have brought character to Pakistan’s campaign, especially as they seek their first home win since 2021.
On day three, Sajid’s remarkable bowling continued as he claimed three out of four England wickets, helping Pakistan establish a 75-run lead. He ended with impressive figures of 7 for 111, the best bowling performance in a Test innings at Multan. Later, during Pakistan’s batting, Sajid teamed up with Salman Agha, adding a crucial 65 runs for the ninth wicket. This partnership was vital, as England aimed to restrict Pakistan to a lower total.
Salman was the standout performer, scoring his third half-century of the series, and England’s fielding woes were highlighted when they missed two chances to dismiss him while he was still on a low score. Brydon Carse was particularly unlucky, as both chances went to Joe Root and wicketkeeper Jamie Smith but were not taken.
Pakistan has struggled in the third innings in previous matches, and their batting was shaky at times, losing three quick wickets to Shoaib Bashir and finding themselves at 43 for 3 at lunch. However, Saud Shakeel steadied the innings, even surviving a close call off Carse’s bowling.
After Shakeel was dismissed lbw by Jack Leach, England seemed poised to wrap up the innings quickly. But Salman responded strongly, hitting three fours in quick succession and reaching his half-century with a big six. The ninth-wicket partnership quickly built up a 50-run stand, which raised England’s target, making it one of their toughest challenges in Pakistan and their highest ever in Asia.
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Sajid Khan was a standout performer in the second Test match in Multan, bringing excitement and energy to Pakistan’s game. After taking seven wickets in the first innings, he played a vital role with the bat, contributing crucial lower-order runs that set England a challenging target of 297 runs to win. Sajid made an immediate impact by dismissing Ben Duckett, England’s top scorer from day two, with just his third delivery of the innings.
Although he may not have been the first choice for selection and considers himself an underdog, Sajid’s impressive performances and vibrant celebrations have added much-needed flair to Pakistan’s efforts to end a winless streak at home that has lasted since 2021. On day three, he took three of the first four England wickets, giving Pakistan a solid 75-run lead with personal bowling figures of 7 for 111—his performance being the best by a bowler in a Test innings at Multan.
As Pakistan’s innings continued, Sajid came to bat when the team was struggling at 156 for 8. England was looking at a target of around 230-240, but Sajid partnered with Salman Agha to form a strong stand of 65 runs, the highest partnership of the day in a match where 16 wickets had already fallen, favoring the spinners.
Salman Agha was the key contributor, scoring his third fifty of the series and increasing the target towards 300 runs. England’s frustration grew as Salman had two chances to be dismissed early, both missed by the fielders. Brydon Carse was particularly unfortunate, as two straightforward catches were dropped—one by wicketkeeper Jamie Smith and another by Joe Root, who was in close proximity while wearing a helmet.
Pakistan has struggled in their third innings in previous matches, failing to capitalize on good positions against teams like Australia and Bangladesh. After losing three wickets to Shoaib Bashir, they found themselves at 43 for 3 at lunch. Saud Shakeel managed to stabilize the innings, although he too was given a second chance when Root failed to catch a fast-cut shot at slip.
When Shakeel was bowled lbw by Jack Leach, England hoped to quickly finish the innings, having taken three wickets in just five overs after tea. However, Salman quickly turned the tide by hitting three fours in seven balls and reaching his half-century with a six over long-off. The ninth-wicket partnership took less than eight overs to score their 50 runs, raising England’s target significantly, leaving them needing the second-highest successful chase in Pakistan’s history, and their highest ever in Asia.
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Sajid Khan had a rollercoaster innings, surviving an early scare when Ben Duckett nearly caught him at long-on. Duckett had to throw the ball back into play as he crossed the boundary, and later, Sajid overturned an lbw decision against a full toss from Matt Potts thanks to UltraEdge detecting an inside edge. Although he could have been dismissed on 20, England was unable to review for a caught behind because the Decision Review System (DRS) was down.
Brydon Carse finally made a breakthrough when Salman Agha sliced a pull shot to midwicket, rewarding the fast bowler for his persistence in challenging conditions. Potts then bowled Sajid, but the spinner quickly returned to the spotlight with the ball. He took a spectacular catch when Duckett top-edged a sweep to depart for a two-ball duck in the first over of England’s chase.
Noman Ali joined the action with a beautifully flighted delivery that left Zak Crawley stumped, leaving England struggling at 11 for 2. Ollie Pope and Joe Root managed to stabilize the innings and saw England through to the close, but the pitch was becoming increasingly spin-friendly, putting pressure on England to extend their winning streak in Pakistan.
This match was a stark contrast to the first Test at the same ground, where only 13 wickets fell over the first three days. By this point in the second Test, 32 wickets had already tumbled. England’s chances were weakened by Sajid’s four-wicket haul on the second evening, and he quickly added to his tally when play resumed. Carse was caught out at long-on, and Potts was bowled when he misplayed a shot off his pads. Noman Ali then took his 50th Test wicket, dismissing Jamie Smith, who mis-hit a shot into the hands of a fielder.
A last-wicket partnership of 29 runs between Jack Leach and Shoaib Bashir slightly reduced Pakistan’s lead before Sajid’s seventh wicket ended the innings. However, Pakistan’s batting soon faltered, losing three wickets within the first 15 overs before lunch. Bashir, who had struggled earlier in the tour, made an impact with the new ball, claiming Abdullah Shafique’s wicket after a long review confirmed the catch behind.
Shafique’s dismissal marked the end of Pakistan’s opening partnership at just 9 runs— the ninth time in ten innings that he and Saim Ayub failed to score in double figures together. Shan Masood fell shortly after, getting caught at second slip by Pope after an awkward delivery. England’s spinners found plenty of turn and bounce, and with the last ball before the break, Bashir dismissed Ayub, who was caught after propping forward.
Pakistan needed stability, which came from several resilient partnerships in the 30s, including contributions from Saud Shakeel and debutant Kamran Ghulam, who had impressed with a century in the first innings. However, Ghulam was soon trapped lbw by Leach. Mohammad Rizwan continued his struggle against Carse, falling for the third time in this innings as England’s bowlers exploited reverse swing. Pakistan’s hopes of reversing their fortunes in this Test may hinge on preventing Sajid from dominating on day four.
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