Spinners shines as Pakistan beat England to level Test series

Pakistan clinched their first home Test victory in almost four years, triumphing over England by 152 runs in the exhilarating second match in Multan on Friday. This victory not only leveled the thrilling three-game series but also dispelled the memories of last week’s devastating loss.

Remarkably, this win ended an 11-match winless streak in home Tests that stretched back to February 2021. The spectacular triumph was achieved before lunch on the fourth day when England’s batting line-up crumbled, losing eight wickets in the session to be all out for 144 while chasing a target of 297.

In a mesmerizing display of spin bowling mastery, Pakistan’s off-spinner, Noman Ali, shattered his previous personal record with a phenomenal 8-46 in the second innings. His incredible effort, sealing the last seven wickets to tumble, culminated in a match figure of 11-47. Remarkably, this contest marked the first instance where Pakistani spinners captured all 20 wickets in a single match, as Sajid Khan contributed significantly with 9-204.

Sajid Khan managed to snare one more wicket while bowling from the other end when the final wicket fell, it would have been an unprecedented event in Test cricket history, with two bowlers each securing 10-wicket hauls in the same match. This victory was particularly poignant for Pakistan, being their first Test triumph, whether at home or abroad, in almost four years.

This historic win came a mere month after suffering a dispiriting 2-0 home series defeat to Bangladesh. With a sense of relief and pride, Pakistan’s captain, Shan Masood, who faced mounting criticism, shared, ‘The first win is always special, especially after enduring such challenging and turbulent periods.’