Pakistan hosts England in a thrilling three-match Test series, with the first Test taking place in Multan. By the end of Day 1, Pakistan found themselves in a commanding position, poised to build a significant score on Day 2. The day began positively for Pakistan as nightwatchman Naseem Shah looked solid at the crease alongside Saud Shakeel, who reached a well-deserved fifty. However, after a 64-run partnership, Naseem was dismissed by Brydon Carse, bringing wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan to the middle. Unfortunately for Rizwan, he fell for a duck to a stunning delivery from Jack Leach, continuing his struggle for form. The first session ended with Pakistan at 69/2, giving England the upper hand.
As Day 2 progressed into the second session, Agha Salman and Saud Shakeel accelerated the scoring, building a crucial partnership that soon surpassed fifty runs. Shakeel played brilliantly, scoring a solid 82 runs before being dismissed by Shoaib Bashir, who claimed his first wicket of the match. Despite wickets falling at the other end, Agha Salman continued to shine, and the session concluded with Pakistan having scored 118 runs for the loss of two wickets, firmly establishing their dominance.
Entering the final session of Day 2, Agha Salman and Shaheen Shah Afridi were at the crease, with Pakistan at 515/8. The two built a remarkable 85-run partnership, with Agha reaching his century in style—his second Test hundred and the third by a Pakistani batter in this innings. As their partnership was finally broken, Pakistan’s innings concluded at a mammoth 556 all out, marking the third time in the Bazball era that England bowlers have conceded more than 500 runs in a Test. All English bowlers picked up wickets, showcasing their skill, but the day took a turn when Ben Duckett was injured while attempting a catch, forcing him to retire hurt. Overall, Pakistan was pleased with their massive total, setting a challenging target for England, especially as the pitch began to favor spinners.
As England began their innings, Zak Crawley and captain Ollie Pope walked to the crease in Duckett's absence. The start was far from ideal for England as Naseem Shah dismissed Pope for a two-ball duck, with Aamer Jamal taking a stunning catch. This early loss was a setback for the visitors. However, the in-form Joe Root joined Crawley, and the two began to settle in, with Root opting for a more measured approach. Crawley, on the other hand, played aggressively, scoring a brisk 64 runs by the end of the day, while Root remained at 32. England finished the day’s play at with 96/1 at the Scorecard, having made a steady recovery and staying ahead in the contest.
