Pakistan Poised for Series Parity as Sajid and Salman Shine

On the third day of the second Test in Multan, a remarkable total of 16 wickets fell, marking one of the most eventful days in cricket history in Pakistan. As the hosts solidified their position, England now faces a daunting task of chasing down 261 runs with only eight wickets remaining on a pitch that has effectively transformed into a spinners’ paradise, characterized by variable bounce and reverse swing.

Sajid Khan's Stellar Performance

The day's play commenced with Sajid Khan continuing his impressive form, adding three wickets to his overnight tally and finishing with a remarkable seven-wicket haul. His efforts helped bowl England out for 291 runs, giving Pakistan a crucial 75-run lead. Despite a frustrating last-wicket partnership of 29 runs between Shoaib Bashir and Jack Leach, Pakistan's bowlers maintained their composure. Noman Ali contributed significantly by claiming the key wicket of Jamie Smith, who was caught in the deep.

Pakistan's Second Innings

As Pakistan began their second innings, they aimed to extend their lead. However, they lost three wickets in the morning session, reaching a total of 118 runs. England opted for a spin attack right from the start, with Shoaib Bashir delivering important breakthroughs. He dismissed Abdullah Shafique, caught down the leg side, and then trapped Shan Masood at gully. In a dramatic turn, Bashir claimed another wicket just before Lunch, catching Saim Ayub on an edge, putting England back into contention.

During the second session, Pakistan added 91 runs while losing two more wickets, one of which was Mohammad Rizwan, who fell for 23 runs. Brydon Carse, despite nursing a leg injury, managed to dismiss Rizwan for the third time in three innings during the series, with Rizwan taking an easy catch at slip. Jack Leach soon joined the fray, dismissing Saud Shakeel lbw and then bowling Aamer Jamal in consecutive overs. Bashir continued his stellar performance, claiming the wicket of Noman Ali, who edged to Ben Stokes at slip.

Agha Salman’s Counterattack

With Pakistan struggling at 156 for 8 and their lead only 231 runs, Agha Salman emerged as a key player. Scoring 63 runs off 89 balls, he took the initiative to attack the England bowlers, significantly aiding his team by adding 65 runs for the ninth wicket. Early in his innings, Salman survived two near-dismissals in the same over from Carse, as both Jamie Smith and Joe Root failed to capitalize on the chances. However, Carse eventually succeeded in dismissing him with a short ball, but not before Salman had propelled Pakistan towards a competitive total of 297 runs for England to chase.

England's Struggles Begin

England's chase got off to a disastrous start as Ben Duckett, who scored a century in the first innings, was dismissed for a golden duck by Sajid Khan. Ironically, it was the sweep shot that had worked so well for Duckett in the first innings that betrayed him this time, as the new ball's extra bounce proved too much for him to handle. Noman Ali quickly followed suit, stumping Zak Crawley, leaving England in disarray at 11 for 2 on a pitch where runs were increasingly difficult to come by.

Key Players for England

In the face of early setbacks, Joe Root and Ollie Pope steadied the ship for England. Both batsmen will play crucial roles as they navigate through a challenging fourth day that looms ahead. With their experience and ability to handle pressure, they could be pivotal in steering England back into contention, though they must be cautious of the daunting conditions.

Match Summary

As the match progresses into its final day, Pakistan holds a significant lead, currently at 260 runs with England struggling at 36 for 2. The key highlights of the match thus far include Sajid Khan's exceptional bowling performance, Agha Salman’s crucial innings, and England's difficulties in the face of Pakistan's spin attack.

Brief Scores:

• Pakistan: 366 & 221 (Salman 63; Bashir 4-66, Leach 3-67)
• England: 291 & 36/2 (Pope 21*, Root 12*; Sajid 1-27, Noman 1-9)

With the series hanging in the balance, the fourth day promises to be thrilling as Pakistan looks to secure a much-needed win to level the series. England, on the other hand, faces a steep uphill battle to chase down the target while contending with the deteriorating pitch conditions. The outcome will depend heavily on the performances of key players from both teams, making for an exciting finish in Multan.