England suffered an extraordinary second-innings collapse against a resurgent Pakistan side as the hosts won the second Test by 152 runs to level the three-match series at 1-1.
England resumed day four on 36-2 but collapsed to 88-6 after Pakistan’s spinners Sajid Khan (2-93) and Noman Ali (8-46) ripped through the middle order, before slumping to 144 all out with the 297 target set by the hosts never threatened.
England lost four wickets in the first 40 minutes of the morning session with Ollie Pope (22) caught and bowled off Sajid’s second ball of the day.
England then burned two reviews trying to save Joe Root (18) and Harry Brook (16) after left-arm spinner Noman trapped both of them lbw, with the on-field umpire giving it out both times.
Ben Stokes (37) and Brydon Carse (27) brought some brief counter-attacking, taking England past 100, but a pitch in its ninth day of use favoured Pakistan’s spin-heavy attack as Noman and Sajid accounted for all 20 England wickets across the Test.
Noman wrapped up England’s tail dismissing Jack Leach (1) and Shoaib Bashir (0) in consecutive deliveries to spin Pakistan to victory.
The series is now level leaving it all to play for in the third and final Test in Rawalpindi, live on Sky Sports Cricket.
Pakistan resurrect in the City of Shrines
Pakistan had not won a home Test match since beating South Africa in 2021, amounting to three years, eight months and 11 days without victory on home turf. But their spinners helped to put an end to that wretched record on the unpredictable Multan surface.
England lost their four big wickets of Root, Pope, Brook and Jamie Smith for just 51 runs, collapsing from 37-3 to 88-6 as Pakistan ran riot in the extended morning session.
Stokes and Carse shared a 37-run partnership for the seventh wicket with the latter hitting three sixes to help England to a more respectable total.
England’s plan was clear after they were pictured sweeping and reverse-sweeping in the nets ahead of play on the fourth day. However, despite approaching the day with caution and optimism, their hopes for a victory quickly evaporated when Pakistan’s spin duo made the most of the turning pitch.
When Stokes departed in slightly comedic fashion, it felt as though England’s hopes went with him. The captain looked to take on Noman but his bat flew in the air after he missed his swipe and was stumped.
That alone summed up England’s chaotic innings.
Carse’s positivity paid off when he scored maximums but he edged a flighted delivery from Noman to Salman Ali Agha at slip and burnt up England’s last review.
Leach only lasted nine deliveries before he too edged Noman to short leg giving the Pakistan spinner a well-earned ten-for across the Test.
Bashir was dismissed for a golden duck after he edged Noman to Abdullah Shafique at silly point, handing Pakistan their first Test victory over England since 2015.
For the visitors, though, it’s their tenth defeat under the Bazball regime led by captain Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum.
First Test: Multan – October 7-11 – England won by an innings and 47 runs
Second Test: Multan – October 15-19
Third Test: Rawalpindi – October 24-28
Watch the third and final Test between Pakistan and England live on Sky Sports Cricket and Main Event from 5.30am ahead of the first ball at 6am on Thursday October 24 as the sides head to Rawalpindi.
