Victory in sight: Mark Wood and Ollie Pope combined with two key dismissals for England
(Picture: AP)A topsy-turvy morning session on day four saw the second Test against Pakistan swing in England’s favour with two late strikes leaving them only three wickets from victory.
England hit twice in the 20 minutes leading up to lunch in a double blow that took the match from in Pakistan’s hands, to in the balance, and then into England’s.
An excellent 80-run partnership between Saud Shakeel and Mohammad Nawaz had looked to be taking Pakistan to victory with only 65 runs left required and five wickets still remaining. But Mark Wood would claim the wickets of both, each caught down the leg side by Ollie Pope.
Much of Pakistan’s hopes had rested on Shakeel, who in only his second Test had batted beautifully for his 94. Slight in stature and compact in technique, he has been one of Pakistan’s stars of the series, but his wicket swung the game.
It was not without controversy, however, as a lengthy video review as to whether Pope had caught the ball cleanly took place with opinions divided as to if he had grounded the ball. What mattered was the opinion of video umpire Joel Wilson, who was happy the catch was fair.
The home side began day four on 198 for four, requiring a further 157 runs to win. Yesterday, England coach Marcus Trescothick said that the key to victory lay in England making the most of what have been favourable bowling conditions in the morning dew of Multan.
But to England’s disappointment and Pakistan’s joy, it was cracking flags in Central Punjab on as crisp a morning as you could hope for. England, nevertheless, would make an early breakthrough, with Joe Root getting the left-handed Faheem Ashraf to edge to Zak Crawley at slip, making England early favourites.
But that wicket would bring Nawaz to the crease, who along with Shakeel batted fantastically as Pakistan cantered along in the face of immense pressure.
Nawaz would fall for 45 however, the first of Wood’s two wickets as England opted for a barrage of short balls to Pakistan’s two left-handers. The tactic worked as Nawaz got a glove on a ball angling down the leg side that was comfortably taken by Pope.
Agha Salman came to the crease as Pakistan’s last recognised batter and the pressure ramping up even further. On paper, the match was arguably in the balance with 65 required for victory and Pakistan with four wickets remaining. However, beyond Salman, Pakistan’s tail is exceptionally fragile with little to suggest there will be much in the way of resistance.
It was for that reason that the wicket of Shakeel became so crucial. He had batted with precision and class throughout his 213-ball innings, striking only eight boundaries. And he had looked set to bring up a maiden Test century before lunch. As it happened, his expected joy was replaced with the disappointment of reality as his wicket put the match within England’s grasp. You’d be foolish to say England were home from here, but they’re only three stops away.
