Agha Salman’s unbeaten 79-run knock carried Pakistan’s innings till the end of the fifth session of the first Test in Multan, taking their score to 515 for 8 at tea on the second day. After sharing a half-century partnership with Saud Shakeel, who fell 18 runs short of a century, Salman combined with Shaheen Afridi to keep the English bowlers in check and the duo added another half-century for their unbeaten ninth wicket partnership.
Unlike the first day, Pakistan approached Tuesday’s game more conservatively. Naseem Shah, who was sent in as the nightwatcher, stuck around at the crease for about an hour and a half in the morning while Shakeel collected runs. Brydon Carse finally got the breakthrough, also getting his first Test wicket, when Naseem played the ball towards short fine leg and was dismissed for 33 off 81 balls.
Soon, as the lunch break approached, England struck again – this time, the big wicket of Mohammad Rizwan, who failed to get enough height in an attempt to step up and hit the in-field against Jack Leach. He was caught at mid-off for zero, and England got some relief on a challenging surface for bowlers.
However, they could not make the most of the situation as Shakeel and Salman continued to frustrate the visitors in the post-lunch session. Salman attacked Leach immediately after lunch, hitting two fours in the opening over after the break. Four overs later, his attempt to hit over the boundary rope almost brought his downfall when Chris Woakes held the catch at long off. However, the momentum carried him beyond the rope and gave Salman the chance to continue his charge. On the very next ball, he holed out to Leach at long on.
England struck again, falling two wickets in quick succession – either side of the drinks break, dismissing Shakeel off a classical off-spinner who edged to slip. Soon after, Carse dismissed Aamir Jamal leg-before to threaten an early end to Pakistan’s lower-order resistance, but it was not to be. Shaheen and Salman kept the English bowlers at bay for nearly an hour before the tea break.
Brief scores: Pakistan 515/8 (Shan Masood 151, Abdullah Shafique 102; Brydon Carse 2-74) vs England
