England got back to the crease at the Multan Cricket Stadium on day 4 of the second Test at 36-2 in their second innings on Friday as Pakistan intends to seal a victory.
With the onus, Ollie Pope (21*) and Joe Root (12*) started the fourth day into action. However, as a part of the Green Shirts’ early wickets, Pope, 22 was sent into the dug-out pretty soon after the resumption of the game as the host’s third wicket. Pakistan needs five wickets to win the second Test while England needs 219 runs.
Earlier on Thursday, the third day ended with England reaching 36/2 in 11 overs while chasing Pakistan’s target of 297 runs. The target set by the Shan Masood-led side came after they took a useful 296-run lead in the second innings, thanks to Salman Agha’s 63.
Earlier, Pakistan managed 366 runs in the first innings; in response, the hosts were bundled out for 291 runs, a deficit of 75 runs. Second innings by Shan Masood and Co. folded for 221 as Salman Ali Agha scored 63 runs.
Meanwhile, Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett came for the second innings to start but headed towards the boundary after scoring few runs for the team. Later, it was the half-century partnership between Crawley and Root that the crowd watched.
Crawley left for three runs as Mohammad Rizwan whipped off the ball. But Duckett scored zero runs and got out when Sajid Khan delivered the third ball of the first over. It is relevant to mention here that off-spinner Sajid Khan of Pakistan bagged seven wickets, Noman Ali took three wickets while delivering against England in the first innings.
