England finally made a breakthrough on Day 2 of the first Test against Pakistan claiming early wickets of Naseem Shah and Mohammad Rizwan.
On Day 2 of the first Test against Pakistan currently being played in Multan, Brydon Carse dismissed Naseem Shah for 33 runs before lunch.
While Jack Leach struck again as Mohammad Rizwan departed for a duck.
The wickets come as a much-needed relief for the touring side, who have been under pressure as Pakistan built a solid innings.
Carse, celebrating his first Test wicket, delivered a ball that slipped down Shah’s pads at around 138 km/h.
Attempting to flick the delivery away, Shah ended up nurdling it toward leg slip, where Harry Brook took a sharp catch just in front of him.
With this dismissal, England has claimed its fifth wicket, breaking a 64-run partnership for the fifth wicket.
At the time of the wicket, Pakistan’s score stood at 392 for 5, with Mohammad Rizwan and Saud Shakeel currently at the crease, looking to extend their innings further as the hosts aim to capitalize on a strong start.
Day 1 summary
Shan Masood’s first hundred as Pakistan’s Test captain set a strong foundation for the hosts at the start of their series against England.
Alongside Abdullah Shafique, who ended a poor run of form with his fifth Test century, Masood’s dominant performance helped Pakistan reach 261 for 1 during the evening session.
The inexperienced England attack struggled under the high temperatures and relentless pressure in Multan, with Masood eventually falling for a brilliant 151 as the pair put together a near-chanceless double-century stand.
Despite facing challenges, England found a glimmer of hope when Gus Atkinson broke through for the first wicket. However, Babar Azam’s late dismissal provided England with further satisfaction as they attempted to regroup after a challenging day.
Pakistan’s success was particularly significant, as they had not won a home Test since 2021 and had suffered five consecutive defeats, including a 2-0 loss to Bangladesh.
The strong top-order partnership provided a much-needed boost for the team under Masood’s captaincy.
The match showcased Masood’s assertive batting style, achieving the second-fastest Test hundred by a Pakistan captain.
He quickly shifted gears against England’s spin options and played with confidence, securing his first Test century in over four years. While initially troubled by the England bowlers, Shafique found his rhythm, doubling his boundaries as they pushed past the 200-run mark together.
Although England had a few moments of potential breakthroughs, including near-run-out chances and missed stumping opportunities, the pair remained largely untroubled.
England’s tactics shifted as the match progressed, leading to two quick wickets after tea. Shafique reached his hundred with a straight six but fell shortly after for 101.
Despite a solid stand between Saud Shakeel and Babar Azam, the latter’s dismissal extended his run without a Test fifty since December 2022.
England’s initial hopes were raised after dismissing Saim Ayub early, but Pakistan’s decision to bat first proved beneficial as the pitch settled, allowing Masood and Shafique to flourish.