Noman Ali's Eight-Wicket Haul Powers Pakistan to Dominant Victory

In a spectacular display of spin bowling, Noman Ali's exceptional performance led Pakistan to a commanding 152-run victory over England in the second Test held in Multan. This win marked the end of Pakistan's 11-match winless streak at home, which included seven defeats since March 2022. Starting Day 4 at a precarious 36 for 2, England crumbled under pressure, succumbing to a total of 144 all out, with Noman finishing with a career-best 8 for 46, marking his maiden ten-wicket haul in a match.

Early Breakthroughs Set the Tone

Pakistan wasted no time in asserting their dominance on the fourth day. Sajid Khan struck early, claiming the first wicket in just the second over, when he caught Ollie Pope off his own bowling. Noman quickly followed up, trapping Joe Root in front, and in a flash, England found themselves reeling at 55 for 4. Despite the setback, Ben Stokes and Harry Brook attempted to stabilize the innings with a partnership. However, Noman's relentless pressure continued, and he secured another lbw decision against Brook, leaving England at a precarious 88 for 6 within the first hour of play.

Stokes displayed a positive attitude as he fought to keep the innings alive, while Brydon Carse joined him at the crease. Carse made an aggressive start, launching two consecutive sixes off Sajid, and helped England cross the 100-run mark. Unfortunately for England, Stokes was stumped off Noman's bowling soon after, ending a promising 37-run partnership and giving Noman his fifth wicket.

Noman's Spellbinding Performance

Noman continued to wreak havoc on England's batting order. Carse, who had struck three sixes, fell victim to Noman’s cunning bowling as he was caught at slip. Noman then claimed his seventh wicket with Jack Leach's dismissal, who handed a catch to short leg. The spinner capped off his remarkable performance by taking Shoaib Bashir's wicket, catching him at silly point. This achievement marked Noman's first eight-wicket haul in an innings, solidifying his place as one of the leading spinners in the game.

Foundation of Victory Laid in First Innings

Pakistan's triumph was built upon a solid foundation established during their first innings. In a notable performance, Kamran Ghulam, who stepped in for the injured Babar Azam, scored a magnificent century on his debut, finishing with 118 runs. Saim Ayub also made significant contributions with a score of 77, as Pakistan managed to post a competitive total of 366 runs.

In response, Ben Duckett led England's batting efforts with a century, scoring 114 runs. However, the rest of the England lineup struggled to keep pace, and Sajid Khan exploited their weaknesses with an impressive seven-wicket haul, bowling England out for 291 and providing Pakistan with a 75-run lead.

Challenging Second Innings for England

The pitch, which had begun to deteriorate and showed signs of turn, presented a challenging scenario for England in their second innings. Pakistan managed to finish their innings at 221, with Agha Salman top-scoring with 63 runs and Saud Shakeel contributing 31 runs. Despite some resistance, England's target of 297 runs on a difficult surface proved daunting.

As Day 4 unfolded, Noman's extraordinary performance sealed the match for Pakistan. His ability to read the pitch and exploit the turn effectively dismantled England's batting lineup.

Match Summary and Scores

In summary, Pakistan's comprehensive win showcased their resilience and adaptability in home conditions. The final scores reflected Pakistan's dominance:

• Pakistan 1st Innings: 366 (Kamran Ghulam 118, Saim Ayub 77; Jack Leach 4-114, Brydon Carse 3-50)
• England 1st Innings: 291 (Ben Duckett 114, Joe Root 34; Sajid Khan 7-111, Noman Ali 3-101)
• Pakistan 2nd Innings: 221 (Agha Salman 63, Saud Shakeel 31; Shoaib Bashir 4-66, Jack Leach 3-67)
• England 2nd Innings: 144 (Ben Stokes 37, Ollie Pope 22; Noman Ali 8-46, Sajid Khan 2-93)

With this remarkable victory, Pakistan not only ended their winless streak but also restored confidence in their cricketing prowess. The combination of skilled batting and exceptional bowling, particularly from Noman Ali, illustrated Pakistan's potential to compete strongly on home soil. As the team celebrates this triumph, they look ahead to future matches with renewed vigor and determination.