MULTAN (Pakistan): Pakistan Abrar Ahmad made a stunning Test debut claiming seven for 114 to beat England for 281 in a frenetic opening day of the second Test at Multan on Friday.
Pakistan were 107-2 in response, with the skipper Babar Azam leading their bid for a series tier win with a fluid 61 not out.
Saud Shakeel was at 32 at the other end when bad light stopped play.
Pakistan are still 174 points behind but will be happy with how they bounced back from the first Test defeat in Rawalpindi.
“I won’t forget this day,” Abrar told Sky Sports through an interpreter. “I want to win this match for Pakistan and also do well in the upcoming matches.”
“I bowled to start seeing what was needed. Variation was key on this court.”
A bespectacled spinner mowing down the top half of England’s explosive batting line-up in the opening session of his first Test is not what visiting captain Ben Stokes might have expected after winning the coin toss and chose to strike.
Pakistan was already without rhythm the spearhead of Shaheen Afridi, excluded from the series following an appendicitis operation.
Their fast bowling resources were further depleted after Haris Rauf (thigh) and Naseem Shah (shoulder) were injured in Rawalpindi along with top hitter Azhar Ali (finger).
Pakistan opted for a heavy attack while revamping the squad, choosing Mohammad Ali as the sole tailoring specialist sharing the new ball with the versatile Faheem Ashraf.
Their three substitutes included Abrar and the impressed leg spinner immediately after being introduced into the attack in the ninth round.
The 24-year-old tasted success with his fifth delivery which he walked through the door to reject Zak Crawley (19).
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Ben Duckett (63), one of four Englishmen to smash a hundred in Rawalpindi, raced to a 50-40 ball before dropping his front leg into a hectic Abrar.
It started with Duckett using the overhaul to overturn an lbw decision against him and ended with Pakistan going the same route to overturn a no-out decision and pull the opener.
The Abrar-review combination also represented Joe Root’s wicket (eight) on an unforgettable day for the umpires on the pitch who had to reverse many of their decisions.
Ollie Pope used one of those criticisms to extend his innings and went on to crush a run-a-ball 60 before playing one reverse sweep too many.
Abrar got his fifth when Harry Brook offered a skier that Mohammad Nawaz took halfway.
Despite the flurry of wickets, England did not abandon their aggressive batting ethos and ran 180-5 at lunch, which is the most scored by any team in the first session of the opening day of the game. a test match.
On their return from the break, Stokes (30) and Will Jacks (31) produced windy cameos before both falling to Abrar.
Particularly impressive was the googly he played Stokes with who was left gobsmacked by the dismissal.
Zahid Mahmoud fired Ollie Robinson and Jack Leach in successive deliveries and finished with 3-63 as England lost all 10 wickets to turn the bowling alley.
Duckett declined to call Abrar a “mystery” spinner and said they would be better prepared to face him in round two.
“There was really no mystery there, but he played beautifully today,” said the opener. “I’m sure we’ll have our plans for round two, but I’m pretty sure that won’t stall him.”
Pakistan lost Imam-ul-Haq early in their response and the other opener, Abdullah Shafique, shortly after breaking the 50 mark, but Babar looked in his element hitting nine fours and a six.
Pakistan were 107-2 in response, with the skipper Babar Azam leading their bid for a series tier win with a fluid 61 not out.
Saud Shakeel was at 32 at the other end when bad light stopped play.
Pakistan are still 174 points behind but will be happy with how they bounced back from the first Test defeat in Rawalpindi.
“I won’t forget this day,” Abrar told Sky Sports through an interpreter. “I want to win this match for Pakistan and also do well in the upcoming matches.”
“I bowled to start seeing what was needed. Variation was key on this court.”
A bespectacled spinner mowing down the top half of England’s explosive batting line-up in the opening session of his first Test is not what visiting captain Ben Stokes might have expected after winning the coin toss and chose to strike.
Pakistan was already without rhythm the spearhead of Shaheen Afridi, excluded from the series following an appendicitis operation.
Their fast bowling resources were further depleted after Haris Rauf (thigh) and Naseem Shah (shoulder) were injured in Rawalpindi along with top hitter Azhar Ali (finger).
Pakistan opted for a heavy attack while revamping the squad, choosing Mohammad Ali as the sole tailoring specialist sharing the new ball with the versatile Faheem Ashraf.
Their three substitutes included Abrar and the impressed leg spinner immediately after being introduced into the attack in the ninth round.
The 24-year-old tasted success with his fifth delivery which he walked through the door to reject Zak Crawley (19).
EVENT ON
Ben Duckett (63), one of four Englishmen to smash a hundred in Rawalpindi, raced to a 50-40 ball before dropping his front leg into a hectic Abrar.
It started with Duckett using the overhaul to overturn an lbw decision against him and ended with Pakistan going the same route to overturn a no-out decision and pull the opener.
The Abrar-review combination also represented Joe Root’s wicket (eight) on an unforgettable day for the umpires on the pitch who had to reverse many of their decisions.
Ollie Pope used one of those criticisms to extend his innings and went on to crush a run-a-ball 60 before playing one reverse sweep too many.
Abrar got his fifth when Harry Brook offered a skier that Mohammad Nawaz took halfway.
Despite the flurry of wickets, England did not abandon their aggressive batting ethos and ran 180-5 at lunch, which is the most scored by any team in the first session of the opening day of the game. a test match.
On their return from the break, Stokes (30) and Will Jacks (31) produced windy cameos before both falling to Abrar.
Particularly impressive was the googly he played Stokes with who was left gobsmacked by the dismissal.
Zahid Mahmoud fired Ollie Robinson and Jack Leach in successive deliveries and finished with 3-63 as England lost all 10 wickets to turn the bowling alley.
Duckett declined to call Abrar a “mystery” spinner and said they would be better prepared to face him in round two.
“There was really no mystery there, but he played beautifully today,” said the opener. “I’m sure we’ll have our plans for round two, but I’m pretty sure that won’t stall him.”
Pakistan lost Imam-ul-Haq early in their response and the other opener, Abdullah Shafique, shortly after breaking the 50 mark, but Babar looked in his element hitting nine fours and a six.
