England Struggles on Spinning Multan Pitch Against Pakistan

A captivating test match is unfolding at the Multan Cricket Stadium, where England found themselves in a challenging position against Pakistan. England’s test match innings faced a dramatic collapse in Multan, as Pakistan exploited the conditions to leave the visitors with a sizable deficit.

“We kind of knew what the pitch was going to do,” remarked England batsman Ben Duckett, highlighting the difficulties posed by the deteriorating pitch. The surface, having endured nearly seven days of continuous test cricket, started to wear significantly, offering assistance to spin bowlers.

Sajid Khan, known for his dramatic presence on the field, celebrated fervently as he played a crucial role in Pakistan’s bowling attack. The England team, initially poised to match Pakistan’s first innings total of 366, witnessed a sudden and sharp decline from 210 for two to 225 for six in just a few overs.

Ben Duckett, who scored a commendable 114 off 129 balls, discussed England’s position, saying, “We’re in a position now where tomorrow morning’s massive. We need to try to win that first session, then we’ll be in a good position in the game.” His comments came at a time when England was still trailing by 127 runs with four wickets remaining.

This shift in momentum was driven by Sajid Khan and Noman Ali, whose effective spin bowling put the English batsmen under severe pressure. Joe Root was the first of the top order to fall, followed by quick wickets, including the key dismissals of Harry Brook and Ben Stokes.

A significant portion of the English innings was defined by Duckett’s attempts to counter Pakistan’s spinners through a series of sweeps, both orthodox and reverse, which initially put England in a commanding position. However, as the pitch offered increasing turn, England’s ability to score freely was curtailed.

The morning session of the day saw Pakistan adding significant runs to their overnight score, mainly thanks to Salman Ali Agha’s resilient batting, despite being dropped twice early in his innings. Brydon Carse emerged as one of England’s standout bowlers, claiming two critical wickets early in the session, including the dismissal of Aamer Jamal immediately after lunch.

With the stage set for another intriguing day of test cricket, much rests on the shoulders of the remaining English batsmen as they attempt to overcome the challenges presented by a spinning track. Both teams continue to vie for dominance in what has become an intensely competitive encounter in Multan.