Lunch Pakistan 366 and 43 for 3 (Ghulam 5*) lead England 291 (Duckett 114, Sajid 7-111) by 118 runs
The state of the surface in Multan could be summed up by Ben Stokes’ approach, after his side had been bowled out inside the first hour on day three. Jack Leach and Bashir opened the bowling and Joe Root was also given a couple of overs, while Pakistan briefly had two left-hand batters in the middle.
Bashir has not enjoyed much success on tour so far but showed signs that he could rise to the occasion. His third over produced the breakthrough, with Abdullah Shafique adjudged to have feathered a catch behind down the leg side – although it took some lengthy deliberations by the third umpire, Sharfuddoula, after England had gone to the DRS.
Shafique’s dismissal brought an end to Pakistan’s opening stand at 9 – the ninth time in ten innings that he and Saim Ayub have failed to reach double-figures together.
Shan Masood did not last long, despite looking to take the attack to Bashir, squared up by one that ripped away off a length to hit the splice for a sharp catch to Ollie Pope, in close under the helmet at second slip. There was turn and bounce aplenty for England’s spinner and with the final delivery before the break, Bashir dislodged Ayub, who propped forward to provide a simpler chance to Pope.
It was all a far cry from the first Test at this ground, when only 13 wickets fell across the first three days. The count was already up to 23 after seven sessions on the re-used pitch.
Sajid, whose four wickets during the evening session on day two had derailed England, picked up three of the last four, with only a last-wicket stand of 29 – the fourth-highest of the innings – threatening to limit Pakistan’s advantage. Noman Ali was the other bowler to contribute, notching his 50th Test wicket as England’s last recognised batter, Jamie Smith, tried to hit out alongside the tail.
It did not take long for Sajid to start inducing jitters in England’s lower order. Brydon Carse tried sweeping and driving to little effect and after seeing an inside edge fall in front of short leg, tried to go aerial – only to hit Sajid down the throat of long-on. Carse’s Durham team-mate, Matthew Potts, fell in the offspinner’s next over, getting in a tangle as he walked across his stumps to be bowled through his legs.
With Leach for company, Smith decided it was time to change gear; but their partnership only last eight balls, as Smith was safely held at long-off looking to launch Noman out of the ground.
