England faced a heavy 152-run defeat to Pakistan in the second Test held in Multan on Friday, October 18. This match becomes historic for Pakistan, ending their 11-match losing streak in home soil. Noman Ali emerged as the standout player, taking eight wickets in the fourth innings. A highlight of his performance was the dismissal of England captain Ben Stokes, which became an achievement for Noman. However, the strange manner in which Stokes was dismissed left everyone, including the batter, in shock.
Bizarre dismissal of Ben Stokes
The unusual incident occurred during the 28th over when Stokes chose to leave his typical sweep or reverse-sweep. Instead, he advanced down the pitch to slog over midwicket. Noman delivered a well-flighted ball that spun sharply and kept low, sneaking between Stokes’s bat and pad. Stokes misjudged the delivery, losing both his bat and balance. Pakistan’s wicketkeeper, Mohammad Rizwan, quickly collected the ball and broke the stumps, leaving Stokes in disbelief.
Spin strategy pays off for Pakistan
Noman finished the fourth innings with figures of 8/46, marking the best performance by a left-arm spinner for Pakistan. The match showcased Pakistan’s effective spin-heavy strategy, with Noman Ali and Sajid Khan each playing pivotal roles in England’s collapse. Remarkably, all 20 wickets for England fell to the duo, with Noman claiming 11 and Sajid taking 9. Chasing a target of 261 with eight wickets in hand, England struggled from the outset. Sajid set the tone by dismissing Ollie Pope early on, while Noman took control as the innings progressed.
England’s risky approach backfires
England attempted to maintain their aggressive Baz-ball strategy from the previous day, heavily relying on sweeps and reverse-sweeps. However, with the pitch deteriorating, this high-risk approach proved detrimental. Ben Stokes, who was England’s top scorer, attempted several sweeps but eventually fell to a stumping after stepping out of his crease. Brydon Carse provided some brief resistance with three sixes, but the team failed to apply any pressure.
Pakistan’s captain, Shan Masood, showed confidence in his spin duo throughout the final innings, leading them to wrap up England’s innings in just 34 overs. The comprehensive victory marked a significant achievement for Pakistan cricket.
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