ENGLAND fell to a 152-run defeat after a vicious spin barrage from the hosts forced an extraordinary second-innings collapse to level the series 1-1.
England resumed day four on 36-2 but a flurry of four quick wickets within the first 40 minutes of play led to them being bowled out for 144 before lunch as Pakistan recorded their first home victory in over three years.
Pakistan relied on just two bowlers for England’s second innings, as spinners Noman Ali and Sajid Khan dominated, with Ali claiming 8-46 and Khan contributing with 2-93 to dismantle the visitors’ lineup across just 34 overs.
Ollie pope was the first to fall in just the second over after a loose drive was chipped straight back to bowler Sajid Khan before Noman Ali ran riot and picked up the next seven wickets giving him career best figures.
A turgid Multan pitch continued to prove difficult for the England middle-order and some unpredictable turn and bounce soon accounted for the wickets of Brook, Root and Smith.
Captain Stokes and Carse mounted a brief comeback, adding 37 runs for the seventh wicket, but that was cut short in comical fashion as Stokes was stumped by Rizwan, with him throwing his bat in process.
England’s slim hopes fell with that dismissal, and shortly after, Carse edged to slip trying to maintain an agressive approach.
Leach was next to go as he chipped one to short-leg before Bashir was dismissed for a golden duck to end England’s misery and leave the series level.
Both sides will travel to Rawalpindi next Thursday with it all to play for in the final test.
Speaking to Sky Sports after the defeat, Ben Stokes admitted his side need to improve in the field.
“No one means to drop catches but it just proves how important catches are in these sub-continent conditions, they don’t come along that often.”
Stokes also revealed that he apologised to his team yesterday after letting his emotions get the better of him.
“I actually apologised to the group last night as it’s the first time in my captaincy that I’ve let my emotions and how I was feeling with the way the game was unfolding show in my body language.
“I owned up to that and was very annoyed at myself for letting that out. It’s something that I don’t want to do or be seen to be doing so I apologised to the group about that.”
The victory for Pakistan was their first against England since 2015 and was new skipper Shan Masood’s first after loosing his first six in charge.
He recognised the importance of the win after some tough times for Pakistan cricket.
“I think the first win is always special, and its come after some hard times, some rough times.
“For the boys to step in – a lot’s happened, especially over the past week – and for everyone to work together, to come up with a strategy to pick up 20 wickets, that’s the most satisfying thing as a leader.”
He also commended debutant Kamran Ghulam for scoring a century after stepping in for the out-of-form former captain, Babar Azam.
“It’s never easy when you’re replacing one of the best batters in the world (Babar Azam).
“I read some things that were horrid, even before he played his first Test match, so I can’t even imagine the pressure that someone can be under.
“But we were all behind him and, and I think from the get-go, he seemed like he belonged and, and to get that century, that’s special.”
