Greetings from a cold and frosty morning in the UK as things look bright for Abar Ahmed who enjoyed a Test debut to remember. Pakistan captain Babar Azam blasted an unbeaten half-century as Pakistan finished the first day of the second Test on top against England in Multan.
The Pakistani ‘wizard’ took the first seven wickets in England and threatened to become only the fourth player in Test history to take all 10 in an innings, only for Zahid Mahmood to claim the last three as the tourists were bowled out for 281.
“I said in an interview before the game that Joe Root and Ben Stokes will be a challenge, so it’s great to have the wickets of both of them,” Abar said.
“Ben Stokes was my favorite wicket. He’s my favorite player!”
Opener Ben Duckett top scored for England with 63 off 49 balls before becoming Abrar’s second victim.
“We tried to put him under pressure and he had a good day,” Duckett said.
“It will be similar in the second innings. We will not seek to pat him. Everyone will have their own strategies. I’m sure we’ll be even tougher in the second innings.”
“Our 281 is pretty good, maybe a little under par,” Duckett said. “If we get a couple of wickets in the morning and keep them at a similar or lower score, it will definitely be difficult to score on this pitch.
“We’ve just got to hang on, try to restrict them as much as we can and hope the wicket comes in a cluster. I think it will be another exciting test.”
On a pitch that dangerously favored spinners for Ben Stokes’ side, Pakistan won wickets at regular intervals throughout the visitors’ innings, while England – who won the toss and elected to field – had opted for an extra seam option in the face of Mark Wood.
Ollie Pope and Ben Duckett impressed for the visitors and Mark Wood made a late cameo, while James Anderson and Jack Leach made an early breakthrough in Pakistan’s reply.
A win would give England, who lead the three-match series 1-0, their first Test win against Pakistan outside the UK in 22 years.
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