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

In a stunning display of spin bowling, Noman Ali's career-best performance helped Pakistan break an 11-match winless streak at home, culminating in a resounding 152-run victory over England in the second Test in Multan. The home side's triumph marked their first win at home since March 2022, which included seven defeats during that challenging period. Starting Day 4 at a precarious 36 for 2, England was ultimately bowled out for just 144 runs, with Noman achieving an impressive eight wickets for 46 runs, along with an overall match haul of 11, marking his maiden ten-wicket achievement.

Pakistan wasted no time in claiming the first wicket of the day. Sajid Khan struck in the second over, taking a catch off his own bowling to dismiss Ollie Pope. Noman followed suit, trapping Joe Root lbw and leaving England struggling at 55 for 4. Ben Stokes and Harry Brook attempted to establish a partnership to stabilize the innings, but Noman’s relentless bowling was too much for them, as he dismissed Brook lbw to make the score 88 for 6 within the first hour of play. Noman continued his impressive spell, claiming his fourth wicket when Jamie Smith was caught attempting a slog-sweep.

While Stokes remained positive in his approach, Brydon Carse counterattacked, hitting two consecutive sixes off Sajid, which helped England surpass the 100-run mark. However, Stokes fell shortly after, stumped off Noman's bowling, ending a valuable 37-run partnership and giving Noman his fifth five-wicket haul. Carse continued his aggressive play, hitting another six with a slog-sweep off Sajid, and Matthew Potts marked his entry with a boundary off the same bowler.

Despite some resistance from Carse, Noman ended his innings by having him caught at slip, leaving England reeling at eight wickets down. Noman's seventh victim was Jack Leach, who was caught at short leg, and he wrapped up his historic performance by having Shoaib Bashir caught at silly point, achieving the remarkable feat of taking eight wickets in an innings for the first time.

The foundation for Pakistan's victory was laid in the first innings, where both batting and bowling performances were commendable. Kamran Ghulam, in for the injured Babar Azam, impressed on his debut with a century, scoring 118 runs, while Saim Ayub contributed a solid 77. The middle order also provided significant support, allowing Pakistan to post a total of 366 runs.

In response, England’s Ben Duckett led the charge with a century, but the rest of the batting lineup faltered against Pakistan's bowling attack, particularly Sajid Khan, who dismantled England's innings with a seven-wicket haul. The visitors were bowled out for 291, handing Pakistan a handy 75-run first-innings lead.

As the pitch began to deteriorate and offer substantial turn, it became increasingly challenging for the batting side. In their second innings, Pakistan managed 221 runs, with Agha Salman contributing a valuable 63. The total set England a daunting target of 297 runs on a wicket that had effectively become akin to a Day 8 pitch. Noman's remarkable performance ensured that England’s batting lineup could not cope with the challenging conditions.

Match Summary:

• 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)

In conclusion, Noman Ali's sensational performance not only secured Pakistan's victory but also showcased the effectiveness of spin on a turning pitch. With this win, Pakistan has regained confidence on home soil and looks to build on this momentum as they move forward in international cricket. The match serves as a stark reminder of the potential impact of conditions on the game, particularly in subcontinental environments where spin bowlers can dominate.