England reach 36-2 at stumps, needing 297 to win second Test and series

Duckett & Crawley fall in opening four overs

Salman, who England drop in same over when on 4 & 6, makes 63

Bashir takes 4-66 and Leach 3-67

Sajid finishes with 7-111 as Pakistan take 75-run lead

Second Test, day three, Multan

England's hopes of winning the second Test against Pakistan were dashed on Day Three in Multan, as they were left trailing by 75 runs. The tourists lost both their openers within the first four overs of their run chase, closing on 36 for two, needing 297 runs to win.

The day was dominated by the Pakistan spinners, particularly Sajid Khan, who took seven wickets in the first innings and finished with 7-111. England's poor catching also hampered their chances, with two crucial drops of Salman Agha in the same over. The first by Jamie Smith, and the second by Joe Root, both off Brydon Carse’s bowling. England found it difficult to contain the Pakistan batsmen on a pitch that was offering prodigious turn, with the bowlers struggling to find the right length and pace to restrict the scoring. The England batters also struggled to cope with the conditions, with most of them struggling to counter the turn and bounce.

Pakistan's Spin Triumph

The Multan pitch played a crucial role in the match, providing ample assistance to the spinners. Sajid Khan was particularly effective, picking up seven wickets in the first innings, including the key scalps of Joe Root, Ben Duckett and Harry Brook. The Pakistan offspinner kept the England batsmen on the defensive with his variations and bounce, making life difficult for the tourists on a day that saw them lose eight wickets for 80 runs. Noman Ali also bowled beautifully, and his ability to spin the ball both ways made it difficult for the English batters to get on top of him. The bowlers created enough opportunities for the fielders, but the English catchers failed to seize the moment.

Costly Drops

England's dropped catches cost them dearly in the match, particularly the two drops of Salman Agha. The first drop, by Jamie Smith, was a sitter, and the second drop, by Joe Root, was also a very catchable chance. Root, wearing a helmet, had to stand closer to the wicket than usual due to the low bounce. Both drops proved costly as Agha went on to make 63 off 89 balls, adding a gut punch of a 65-run stand for the ninth wicket with Sajid Khan. Smith’s drop was particularly costly. Agha was on four at the time. He should have been dismissed for four runs, reducing Pakistan to 122 for six, a lead at that stage of 177, still ahead in the game, but only just.

England’s Struggles

England’s batting was also disappointing, as the batsmen struggled to find a way to score consistently against the spin. Their attempts to score quickly resulted in an increased risk of getting out. The first-innings performance of Ben Duckett, who made a chanceless fourth Test century, was a bright spot for the tourists. But in the second innings, the English batsmen struggled to adapt to the conditions, with both openers falling quickly. The visitors were left chasing 297 runs to win the match on a pitch that was becoming increasingly difficult to bat on.

Second-Innings Collapse

Ben Duckett’s dismissal in the second innings exemplified England’s struggles with the spin bowling. Duckett, who had scored a hundred in the first innings, went for a duck, top-edging a wild sweep. Zak Crawley continued to show little pedigree starting against spin on Asian pitches, stumped driving at a ball turning away from the bat for three. Crawley, looking very tall with all the close fielders massed around him, had tried to sweep his way to victory but was stumped by Muhammad Rizwan in the fourth over of the innings. He became the third earliest in a Test innings that an England batter has been stumped. Sir Alastair Cook holds the record for the earliest, dismissed in the fifth ball of the innings off Ravichandran Ashwin in Kolkata in December 2012. The pair had only scored 11 runs between them.

England’s Last Hope

England will need to dig deep and show their resilience if they are to pull off a victory in the second Test. Their ability to chase down a large target on a difficult pitch is a testament to their fighting spirit. They have a reputation for being bold and fearless in their approach to the game. The team will be looking to their experienced players, like Joe Root and Ben Stokes, to lead the way and inspire their teammates to achieve the impossible. If England can get their chase under way and build a solid foundation, then anything is possible.

The Path Forward

England will be hoping to bounce back in the second Test, despite the tough conditions they face. They have the talent and experience to overcome any challenge, and their fans will be hoping to see them turn the tide of the series. They need to adjust their tactics to counter the spin bowling and find a way to score runs on a difficult pitch. They need to find a way to limit the damage done by the Pakistan spinners and avoid making costly mistakes in the field. They will need to be more patient and disciplined with their batting, and avoid being lured into risky shots. The English batsmen need to be more proactive in their approach to the game, with their confidence and focus in mind. The team needs to regain their composure, with a strong batting order and a plan to counter the spinners.

What’s Next

The series continues with the third Test, and England will be hoping to even the score. The team will be hoping to use the lessons they learned in the second Test to their advantage. The tour is a good test of the team's character, with the series likely to be a close contest. The team’s resilience will be put to the test and it will be fascinating to see how they respond to the challenge. The team’s success or failure will depend on their ability to adapt to the conditions and to play with a focus and determination. They will be hoping to turn things around and put in a winning performance.