At the Multan Cricket Stadium, Pakistan’s spinner Sajid Khan has emerged as the star of the show, orchestrating a dominant performance that has left England reeling in the second Test.
Khan’s off-spin has been nothing short of magical, weaving a web of deception around the English batsmen. After Pakistan posted a respectable 366 runs, Khan took center stage, dismantling England’s batting lineup with precision and skill. His dismissal of Ollie Pope was a highlight, as a full delivery spun sharply to hit the off-stump, breaking a crucial 52-run partnership between Pope and Ben Duckett.
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Khan’s impact was far-reaching, claiming key wickets including those of Joe Root, Harry Brook, and Ben Duckett. By the end of Day 2, his figures stood at an impressive 4/86, a testament to his mastery over the conditions. England found themselves trailing by 127 runs with six wickets down, struggling to cope with the relentless pressure from Pakistan’s bowlers.
Ben Duckett, who managed a century for England, praised the Pakistani bowlers for their relentless pressure. “Batting against spin is one of my strengths, but credit to them; they made every run a hard-earned one,” Duckett acknowledged. He highlighted how the softer the ball got, the more challenging it became to bat, underscoring the tough conditions faced by the English batsmen.
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Khan’s success can be attributed to his strategic bowling and the clever field placements by the Pakistani team. His ability to make the ball spin sharply and consistently kept the English batsmen on their toes. The Pakistani team’s fielding strategy, which included placing men around the bat to increase pressure, played a pivotal role in their success.
