Pakistan tightened their grip on the second Test in Multan, extending their lead to 209 runs with another commanding session on Day 3, reports Live Cricket Score.
The hosts added 91 runs during the afternoon for the loss of two wickets, including Mohammad Rizwan, who departed for 23. Rizwan once again fell to Brydon Carse, who claimed his wicket for the third time in three innings this series, this time via a straightforward catch at slip. Despite nursing a troubled left leg, Carse remained a threat and nearly dismissed Agha Salman twice in the same over, only for Jamie Smith and Joe Root to put down chances at slip. England eventually found a breakthrough as Jack Leach trapped Kamran Ghulam leg-before, marking the first wicket of the afternoon.
Earlier in the morning, Sajid Khan’s brilliant spell – 7 for 111, his second-best figures in Test cricket – helped Pakistan wrap up England’s innings for 291. England, who resumed on 239/6, managed some useful lower-order runs with contributions from Jamie Smith and Jack Leach. However, Pakistan secured a crucial 75-run first-innings lead. By lunch, the hosts had stretched their lead to 118 but were 43/3 after losing three early wickets.
Carse enjoyed some luck in the morning session. Sajid Khan dropped a tough return catch and then lost an lbw review against him. But Sajid had the last laugh, dismissing Carse, who miscued a shot to long-on. Sajid cleaned up Matthew Potts in his following over, securing his sixth wicket after Potts had swept him for a boundary.
Smith fell shortly after, caught at long-off while attempting a big shot, giving Noman Ali his third wicket. Leach and Shoaib Bashir frustrated Pakistan with some late hitting. Still, Sajid eventually ended the resistance, dismissing Bashir at short mid-wicket to wrap up England’s innings within the first hour of the day.
England turned to spin immediately in Pakistan’s second innings, with Leach and Bashir bowling in tandem. The Pakistan openers started cautiously, playing out the first five overs without trouble. However, Bashir struck first, dismissing Abdullah Shafique down the leg side after a successful DRS appeal.
Shan Masood hit a boundary off Bashir but was soon caught at gully, closing the face of the bat too early. Saim Ayub followed just before lunch, edging Bashir to slip to hand him his third wicket.
Brief scores:
Pakistan 366 & 134/5 (Saud Shakeel 30; Shoaib Bashir 3-46) lead England 291 (Ben Duckett 114; Sajid Khan 7-111, Noman Ali 3-101) by 209 runs.
