England completed a historic Test series victory against Pakistan as the visitors defied a set Saud Shakeel, some resolute defence from the hosts’ middle and lower order as they won the second match in Multan by 26 runs. Travelling to Pakistan after 17 years, it was going to be a first major test of the new English side in the longest format and the visitors overcame every single challenge thrown at them by Pakistan players and the flat conditions.
Pacer Mark Wood was the star for the Ben Stokes-led English side on Day 4 as he took three of the six wickets that fell for Pakistan in the fourth innings on Monday, December 11. After losing Faheem Ashraf early, Pakistan stormed back into the contest owing to the yin-and-yang partnership between Mohammad Nawaz and Saud Shakeel, the latter playing just his second Test. While Nawaz attacked, Shakeel held one end up before. However, Wood broke the back of Pakistan’s chase by dismissing both the set batters, Nawaz and Shakeel. Although, Shakeel departed in a controversial manner when the umpire ruled a doubtful catch in the visitors’ favour but in the end it was a wicket and eventually they all fell through. The player of the match in the first game, Ollie Robinson took the final wicket as Pakistan folded for 328 runs and England won a first Test series in Pakistan in 22 years.
Former Indian opener Wasim Jaffer led reactions commending England for sticking to their approach and succeeding in overseas conditions. The fans too heaped praise on England while trolled the hosts saying that all teams don’t win at home and Pakistan are one of them.
While it was the batters, who set up the win with their intent on a dead track in Rawalpindi, the bowlers came good for England in Multan on a surface that was helpful to the spinners. Left-arm spinner, Jack Leach completed 100 wickets in Test matches amid a match-turning spell of 4/98 in the first innings. After the batters got just 281 runs on the board, the bowlers needed to step up for the English side. Once Babar Azam and Saud Shakeel’s 91-run stand was broken by Robinson, the whole Pakistan batting line-up faltered and could add just 60 runs for the next 8 wickets.
Pakistan handed England a huge advantage by conceding a lead and England’s in-form future superstar Harry Brook continued his golden run in Pakistan smashing his second century in the series as England gave a target of 355 runs for Pakistan to chase. When Imam and Shakeel were going great guns, and even when Nawaz was there, it felt like Pakistan could level the series as less than 100 runs were remaining but once Wood removed both of them, it was going to be an uphill task for the hosts.
