Pakistan reaches 397-6 on the second morning of the first Test against England

MULTAN, Pakistan — On the second morning of the first Test against England, Pakistan reached 397-6, with the visitors striking early through debutant Brydon Carse and veteran spinner Jack Leach.

After a solid Day 1, where Pakistan’s captain Shan Masood and Abdullah Shafique both scored centuries, the hosts resumed their innings on Tuesday at 328-4. However, the English bowlers were determined to make their mark.

Brydon Carse broke the deadlock for England, dismissing Naseem Shah, who had played a resilient innings of 33 runs. Carse had Naseem caught at leg slip after he had defended solidly for an hour and a half on the second morning. Following this breakthrough, Jack Leach quickly added to Pakistan’s troubles by removing Mohammad Rizwan for a duck, caught at mid-off just before the lunch break.

Left-handed batsman Saud Shakeel, who started the day on 35, showed resilience and reached 67 by the time the teams went for lunch. Salman Ali Agha, who came to the crease after Rizwan’s dismissal, had yet to get off the mark, facing just seven balls before the break.

Despite only managing to take two wickets, it was a successful session for England, as Pakistan could only muster 69 runs—a stark contrast to the explosive Day 1. The opening pair of Masood and Shafique had put on a commanding 253-run partnership, setting the stage for a formidable first innings.

Naseem Shah played well and managed to raise his best score in first-class cricket, contributing valuable runs while the English bowlers struggled to find consistent assistance from a benign pitch. The short-ball strategy employed by England’s fast bowlers, including Carse and Gus Atkinson, failed to yield the desired results, as Naseem held his ground effectively.

As the session progressed, Shakeel reached his half-century with a powerful sweep against off-spinner Shoaib Bashir, showcasing his growing confidence. Meanwhile, Naseem faced some anxious moments when a short delivery from Atkinson struck him on the back of the helmet, and he also received treatment for a hit on the right thumb from another short ball by Carse.

Naseem eventually began to dominate the spin bowlers, lofting Leach and Bashir for three consecutive sixes, demonstrating his intent and power. However, it was Carse who eventually claimed his first Test wicket when Naseem was caught out on the leg side, tightening England’s grip on the match as they looked to limit Pakistan’s scoring before the lunch interval.

With both teams eager for dominance, the second session promises more excitement as Pakistan looks to build on their total while England aims to dismantle the remaining batting order.