Pakistan’s Spinners Turn the Tide as England Collapse in Second Test after Ben Century
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| Ben Duckett scored his fourth Test century, contributing 114 runs. / Getty |
On a gripping second day in Multan, Pakistan's spinners dramatically shifted the momentum in the second Test against England. After being in control at 211-2, England's middle order collapsed, leaving them at 239-6 by the close of play, still 127 runs behind Pakistan's first-innings total of 366.
Ben Duckett was the standout performer for England, scoring a swashbuckling 114. His commanding innings, filled with sweeps and reverse sweeps, had England well on their way to a potential lead. Duckett shared key partnerships with Zak Crawley, Ollie Pope, and Joe Root, and seemed set to help the tourists take charge of the match.
However, Pakistan's off-spinner Sajid Khan had other ideas. Sajid, who was brought into the side for this match, inspired a stunning turnaround on the used pitch, which had begun to show signs of life. He first bowled Root, then lured Duckett into an edge before dismissing Harry Brook with a sharp-turning delivery. Ben Stokes soon followed, caught at short leg off Noman Ali. In the blink of an eye, England had lost four wickets for just 14 runs in 24 deliveries, with their hopes of a first-innings advantage rapidly disappearing.
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| Pakistan's Sajid Khan (4-80) dismantled England's middle order, taking crucial wickets. / Getty |
Earlier in the day, England wrapped up Pakistan's innings just after lunch. Left-arm spinner Jack Leach claimed four wickets, while Brydon Carse impressed once again, taking three. Carse's dismissal of Mohammad Rizwan and Aamer Jamal's stumps after lunch highlighted his growing credentials as a bowler in this series.
By the close of play, Carse was back at the crease, batting alongside Jamie Smith as England battled to stay in the contest. With the pitch expected to deteriorate further, England face a tough task to avoid a significant deficit and will need to muster all their resolve to prevent Pakistan from leveling the series.