Mark Wood’s fearsome pace has helped England beat Pakistan by 26 runs in the second Test in Multan to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.
Key points:
- Pakistan was bowled out for 328 in its second innings
- Wood claimed the figures of 4-65
- England won the first Test by 74 runs
Pakistan — in pursuit of a challenging victory target of 355 — was bowled out for 328 within an hour after lunch on day four.
Wood grabbed 4-65, his haul including a contentious caught-behind decision that denied left-hander Saud Shakeel (94) his first Test century.
Shakeel’s patient half-century in just over five hours nearly pulled off Pakistan’s highest successful chase in a home Test after the hosts resumed on day four on 4-198, needing a further 157 for victory.
He shared an 80-run stand with Mohammad Nawaz (45) before Wood struck in his first over with the second new ball.
Wood first had Nawaz caught down the legside off a short ball and then ended Shakeel’s defiance with another excellent delivery in the same area.
Wicketkeeper Ollie Pope took a low catch down the legside after Wood got Shakeel tangled. The third umpire, West Indian Joel Wilson, ruled in the bowler’s favour after viewing several replays.
Shakeel and Nawaz stifled England for nearly 22 overs before Wood struck twice in quick succession to raise England’s hope of clinching the three-match series.
Pakistan lost Faheem Ashraf (10) in the day’s sixth over when Joe Root had the left-hander caught at slip as captain Ben Stokes chose to deploy spinners from one end.
But Shakeel and Nawaz thwarted England’s seam and spin bowlers, rising in confidence even after England took the second new ball with Pakistan still needing 109 runs.
Fast bowler Ollie Robinson thrice went past Nawaz’s bat, but the left-hander showed aggression against Root and left-arm spinner Jack Leach with some crisp boundaries.
Stokes then turned to the pace of Wood late in the first session and gained two crucial wickets.
Abrar Ahmed — who took 11 wickets in his debut Test — made a brisk 17 that featured three extravagant boundaries against Wood after lunch, before England seamers Robinson (2-23) and James Anderson (2-44) wrapped up the tail.
England won the first Test by 74 runs in dimming light on the last day in Rawalpindi.
The tourists will conclude their first test tour of Pakistan since 2005 with the third and final match beginning in Karachi on Saturday.
AP/Reuters
