2nd Test: Sajid Khan triggers England collapse and hopes of ...

Pakistan (PAK) vs England (ENG), 2nd Test: Off-spinner Sajid Khan picked four wickets to trigger an England collapse late on Day 2. Ben Duckett hit a hundred, but England conceded advantage on Wednesday afternoon in Multan.

Sajid Khan picked four wickets, including that of Harry Brook, on Day 2 in Multan (AP Photo)

Off-spinner Sajid Khan, playing his first Test in 10 months, spun a web around England to spark hopes of a spirited comeback from Pakistan in their second Test against England. Sajid picked four wickets on Day 2 of the second Test as the battered hosts edged ahead in a gripping contest at the Multan Cricket Ground.

Sajid and left-arm spinner Noman Ali made the best use of the dry surface in the final session to create some panic in the otherwise calm and composed England dressing room. 346 runs were scored and 11 wickets fell on what can be called the first evenly-fought day in the Test series.

PAK vs ENG, 2nd Test Day 2 Highlights

England were in control of the proceedings and racing ahead, having reached 211 for 2 in the final session. Ben Duckett was looking set for a daddy hundred after completing his fourth Test hundred while Joe Root, who smashed 262 in England's innings and 42-run win in the first Test in Multan, was batting on 37, looking comfortable against the trio of Pakistan spinners.

However, Sajid broke the solid partnership for the third wicket, removing Joe Root, who played one onto the stumps while trying to sweep the off-spinner from outside the line of the off-stump. Root's wicket opened the floodgates as England lost four wickets for 28 runs, heading to close of play at 239 for 6 in 53 overs.

Sajid Khan was using the dryness of the used pitch in Multan and imparting enough revolutions to get more bite than any other bowler in Multan.

England were in control of the proceedings and racing ahead, having reached 211 for 2 in the final session. Ben Duckett was looking set for a daddy hunderd after completing his fourth Test hundred while Joe Root, who smashed 262 in England's innings and 42-run win in the first Test in Multan, was batting on 37, looking comfortable against the trio of Pakisan spinners.

However, Sajid broke the solid partnership for the third wicket, removing Joe Root, who played one onto the stumps while trying sweep the off-spinner from outside the line of the off-stump. Root's wicket opened the floodgates as England lost four wickets for 28 runs, heading to close of play at 239 for 6 in 53 overs.

Sajid Khan was using the dryness of the used pitch in Multan and imparting enough revolutions to get more bite than any other bowler in Multan. Sajid then removed Duckett, who paid the price for a rare lapse in concentration in the final session. Duckett went for an expansive drive and got a thick edge that was safely pouched by Agha Salman.

in the same over, Harry Brook, who hit a triple hundred in the previous Test in Multan, was undone by a delivery that spun sharply from outside the off-stump. Brook stayed on the backfoot, trying to play the ball late. However, Brook was reminded that it was not the Multan pitch of last week as he bowled through the gates.

To add to England's woes, Noman Ali got the big wicket of Ben Stokes towards the end of the day's play. The England captain, who was playing his first Test in the series, was dismissed for 1. It was Noman who took the first wicket of the day when he snapped a 73-run opening partnership, getting the wicket of Zak Crawley.

Pakistan's fielding was not up to the mark. Sajid Khan fluffed an easy opportunity to run Crawly out in the second session while wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan was far from impressive behind the wickets. However, Sajid and Noman made sure Pakistan were not made to pay heavily for their lack of tidiness on the field.

Earlier, Jack Leach grabbed 4-114 and fast bowlers Carse (3-50) and Matthew Potts (2-66) shared five wickets in between them before Pakistan was dismissed shortly after lunch.

The tailenders batted around all-rounder Aamer Jamal’s 37 to frustrate England with Ali also playing a little cameo of 32 off 61 balls as Pakistan added 107 to its overnight 259-5.

Pakistan lost the overnight pair of Mohammad Rizwan (41) and Salman Ali Agha (31) before Jamal, who received treatment on his hip while batting, chipped away by adding 49 runs with Ali.