Pakistan falls to England in crushing defeat at Multan Test
Pakistan suffered a heavy defeat to England by an innings and 47 runs on the final day of the first Test match at Multan Cricket Stadium. Despite valiant efforts by some players, Pakistan was bowled out for 220 in their second innings, marking the end of a challenging match.
Resuming their innings at 152/6, Pakistan faced an uphill battle. Salman Ali Agha and Aamer Jamal were key players at the crease, with Agha scoring 63 runs off 84 balls before being dismissed by lbw.
His innings, which included seven boundaries, gave Pakistan some hope, but his departure left the team vulnerable. Jamal, however, stayed until the end, putting up a solid fight with 55 runs, hitting five boundaries during his innings.
The rest of the lineup struggled to make significant contributions. Shaheen Shah Afridi added 10 runs before being caught by Jack Leach in the 54th over. Naseem Shah hit a massive six but only managed to score six runs before England’s bowlers wrapped up the match. Jamal was eventually stumped by wicketkeeper Jamie Smith, securing England’s dominant victory.
England’s bowling attack was led by Jack Leach, who took four wickets, including key dismissals on the final day. Gus Atkinson and Brydon Carse each claimed two wickets, while Chris Woakes took one. This stellar performance sealed England’s win.
In the first innings, Pakistan had posted an impressive 556 runs, with captain Shan Masood leading the way with 151 runs. Abdullah Shafique (102) and Salman Agha (104) also contributed centuries. Despite their first-innings heroics, Pakistan struggled to maintain their form in the second innings.
England, meanwhile, had declared their first innings after scoring 823/7, with Joe Root (262) and Harry Brook (317) delivering exceptional performances. Pakistan’s bowlers, including Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, and Aamer Jamal, took some wickets, but they couldn’t stop England’s onslaught.
Pakistan’s second-innings collapse, losing half their wickets within just 20 overs, marked the turning point of the game. The match set a historic record, as Pakistan became the first team to lose a Test match after scoring over 500 runs in a single innings.
