Pakistan’s Noman Ali, center bottom, celebrates as he is congratulated by teammates after he took his fifth wicket (AP)
Noman Ali claimed eight wickets as Pakistan’s frontline spinners bowled them to a 152-run victory over England in the second test in Multan on Friday to level the three-match series at 1-1.
Chasing 297 for victory on a turning track at the Multan Cricket Stadium, England were all out for 144 in the fourth day’s morning session.
Left-arm spinner Noman was the pick of the Pakistan bowlers claiming 8-46.
Winning moments 📸
Pakistan beat England by 1️⃣5️⃣2️⃣ runs 🏏#PAKvENG | #TestAtHome pic.twitter.com/AxAQX89cse
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) October 18, 2024
Noman and player of the match Sajid Khan, who claimed seven wickets in the first innings, shared all 20 England wickets in a terrific display of spin bowling.
Here are the major highlights from Pakistan’s win
Ending winless streak
The triumph ended Pakistan’s winless run on home soil where they had not won a test match since February 2021.
Pak spinners break records
Moving away from their seam attack comprising Shaheen Afridi and Naseem Shah, Pakistan’s rejuvenated spin attack of Noman Ali and Sajid Khan picked up all 20 wickets in the Test. It is only the seventh-such instance in Test cricket where two bowlers picked up all 20 wickets and a first since 1972. It was also the second such instance in Asia since 1956.
Noman Ali’s 8/46 is the fourth-best figures by a Pakistan spinner in Test history and the best by any bowler in Multan. His match haul of 11/147 is also the third-best effort by a Pakistan bowler against England.
Best figures for a Pakistan spinner in Tests
9/56 – Abdul Qadir vs England, Lahore, 1987
8/41 – Yasir Shah vs New Zealand , Dubai, 2018
8/42 – Sajid Khan vs Bangladesh, Mirpur, 2021
8/46 – Noman Ali vs England, Multan, 2024
“I think the first one’s always special, and it’s come after some hard times, some rough times,” Shan Masood said after his first Test win as Pakistan captain.
“Noman and Sajid coming in for their first games — it’s never easy, and they seemed like two seasoned campaigners coming in and doing their job in the second innings.
“We didn’t need a third bowler, so that just speaks volumes for them,” Masood remrked.
– With Reuters inputs
