Noman Ali, making his Test debut, took eight wickets as Pakistan’s leading spinners guided the team to a 152-run win over England in the second Test in Multan on Friday leveling the three-match series at 1-1.
Chasing 297 for victory on a turning track at the Multan Cricket Stadium, the Englishmen folded up for 144 in the morning session of the fourth day. England captain Ben Stokes top-scored with 37, their frontline batters failing to handle the turning ball.
Left-arm spinner Noman had the best figures of 8-46. Noman and player of the match Sajid Khan shared all 20 wickets in a magnificent display from both spinners. This win also ended Pakistan’s winless run on home soil, having not won a Test match since February 2021.
“I think the first one’s always special and it’s come after some hard times, some rough times,” Shan Masood said after his maiden win as Test captain of Pakistan. “Noman and Sajid coming in for their first games – it is 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.”
Congratulations to the team soon after ending a winless home run have been coming in from President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. In his congratulatory message for the Men in Green, Zardari called the spinners of the team and hailed them for their performance. “InshaAllah, they played an important role in winning this match.”.
“I hope that this series of excellent performances will continue in the future”, he said.
Meanwhile, taking to X, Shehbaz heaped praise on the team for ending a winless streak at home. “We are back,” the prime minister posted on X. “Well done, Team Pakistan for winning the first home Test in long haul with historic win against England”, he added. “Spectacular performances by Sajid Khan wickets & Noman Ali wickets”.
