Noman Ali takes eight wickets as Pakistan defeat England in second Test

Noman Ali decimated the England batting lineup on the fourth day of the second Test to earn Pakistan a 152-run victory in Multan.

Chasing a target of 297, the tourists were already underdogs before Ben Duckett (0) and Zak Crawley (3) were dismissed during the closing 45 minutes of Thursday's play.

While England resumed on 36-2, that soon became 37-3 as Ollie Pope (22) gave Sajid Khan his second wicket, which subsequently led to his fellow spinner Noman taking over.

Wickets were falling at regular intervals on a rapidly deteriorating pitch, Joe Root (18) and Harry Brook (16) unable to replicate their efforts of the first Test.

Ben Stokes and Brydon Carse each come out with credit, the skipper making a lively 37 while Carse hit three sixes on his way to a knock of 27.

— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) October 18, 2024

However, England were unable to stifle the wizardry of Noman, who ended with figures of 8-46 as he and Khan shared the 33.3 overs in their entirely to bowl their opponents out for 144.

Some context required

Although the defeat brings the series level at one apiece with one match remaining, it should come with perspective with England having been required to successfully chase down their highest-ever target in Asia.

Only three other teams in history have chased down such a target on away territory in the history of Test cricket, while it would have been the highest successful chase in Pakistan had it been achieved.

Pakistan's bowlers set their own feat, however. Sajid and Noman's 33.3-over stint was the longest unchanged bowling attack in Test cricket since 1956.

There is now a break before the third Test in Rawalpindi begins on October 24.

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