PAK vs ENG: Sajid Khan's spin masterclass leaves England reeling at stumps

On a captivating second day of the ongoing second Test at Stumps, Pakistan's off-spinner Sajid Khan showcased his talent by leaving England in a precarious position at 239-6. This occurred after Ben Duckett's impressive century, which anchored the English innings amidst a flurry of bowling changes from the Pakistani side.

The day began with England's openers, Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett, racing to a quick 69 runs within the first ten overs. However, the partnership was broken by Noman Ali, who dismissed Crawley for 27 just before the Tea break, ending a solid 73-run opening stand. Duckett then continued his momentum by forming a 52-run partnership with Ollie Pope, who scored 29 before being bowled out by Sajid Khan, whose delivery spun sharply.

With the in-form Joe Root joining Duckett at the crease, England's batting displayed an aggressive flair. The duo added 86 runs in 108 balls for the third wicket, putting pressure back on the Pakistani bowlers. Unfortunately for the hosts, Pakistan's innings folded for 366 during the second session, with Jack Leach claiming the final wicket of Noman Ali, who contributed a crucial 32 runs from the number 10 position.

Leach emerged as England's leading wicket-taker with four dismissals, while Brydon Carse and Matthew Potts followed closely with three and two wickets, respectively. Aamir Jamal had previously been dismissed by Carse immediately after lunch, having fought hard for his 37 runs off 69 balls.

As the day progressed, Mohammad Rizwan and Salman Ali Agha resumed for Pakistan with a score of 259-5. However, England struck early, claiming the wicket of Rizwan, who managed 41 runs from 97 balls before falling in the third over. Salman and Aamir Jamal then combined for a 38-run partnership for the seventh wicket, pushing the score past 300 before Salman was dismissed by Potts for 31.

In the early stages of the first day, Pakistan faced difficulties, slipping to 19-2. However, debutant Kamran Ghulam, who replaced Babar Azam, formed a vital partnership with Saim Ayub, helping to stabilize the innings. Both batters completed half-centuries during their 149-run stand, with Ghulam ultimately scoring a commendable 118 runs off 224 balls, featuring eleven boundaries.

After their solid start, Pakistan found themselves at 259/5 by Stumps, a situation that hinted at potential recovery. Captain Shan Masood’s decision to bat first after winning the toss seemed risky early on, but the team’s perseverance was evident as they adjusted to the challenges posed by the English attack.

As the series progresses, with England leading 1-0 after their dominant performance in the first match, both teams made strategic changes to their line-ups.

Pakistan's Playing XI: Saim Ayub, Abdullah Shafique, Shan Masood (C), Kamran Ghulam, Saud Shakeel (VC), Mohammad Rizwan (WK), Salman Ali Agha, Aamir Jamal, Noman Ali, Sajid Khan, Zahid Mahmood.

England Playing XI: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (capt), Jamie Smith (wk), Brydon Carse, Matthew Potts, Jack Leach, Shoaib Bashir