Throughout the day in Multan, the pitch proved to be dry and flat, providing little assistance to the bowlers. There were some intense moments, including Ducket suffering a painful blow to his left thumb while taking a catch and Pope getting out after facing only two balls. Aamer Jamal’s remarkable catch further boosted Pakistan’s efforts while Joe Root and Ben Duckett formed a strong partnership. Shaheen Shah Afridi’s crucial dismissal of Zak Crawley, who scored 78 runs off 85 deliveries, including 13 boundaries, was a turning point in the game.
Pakistan won the toss and chose to bat, with their batters showcasing dominance. Skipper Shan Masood’s impressive 151, Abdullah Shafiq’s 102, and Saud Shakeel’s 82 contributed to Pakistan’s strong position, with Salman Ali Agha becoming Pakistan’s third centurion. Their efforts resulted in a commanding total of 556 runs.
After losing the first wicket of Siam Ayub at 8-1, Abdullah Shafiq and Shan Masood formed a partnership of 253 runs. Jack Leach’s bowling prowess resulted in crucial wickets, including Shan Masood, Mohammad Rizwan, and Shaheen Shah Afridi. English batters demonstrated exceptional form, with Joe Root and Ben Duckett showing composure against Pakistan’s bowlers.
