Pakistan v England: Tourists win thriller to seal first series victory in the country in 22 years
England pulled off another sensational victory in Pakistan, winning the second Test by 26 runs to seal a historic series triumph.
Mark Wood took three crucial wickets on the fourth day in Multan just as Pakistan was closing in on what would have been a superb chase of 355.
His efforts secured victory for England in their first Test series in Pakistan since 2005 and their first over these opponents outside of the UK in 22 years.
At 290-5, Wood had Mohammad Nawaz caught down the leg side for 45 then, one run later, did the same to dismiss Saud Shakeel for 94, but only after lengthy deliberation by the third umpire.
Abrar Ahmed was caught at cover off James Anderson and Wood splattered the stumps of Zahid Mahmood at pace in excess of 90mph for his fourth wicket of the innings.
Though Salman Agha kept tension high with regular boundaries, Ollie Robinson had number 11 Mohammad Ali caught behind to leave Pakistan 328 all out.
This is also the first time England have ever won two Tests in an away series against Pakistan.
They will look for a clean sweep in the third and final Test in Karachi, which begins on Saturday.
England’s second stunning triumph
Before this series, England had only ever won two away Tests to Pakistan in 30 attempts across 61 years. Now, they have won two in a week.
Furthermore, they have followed up the thrilling triumph in the first Test in Rawalpindi with another heart-stopping success in Multan.
However, whereas England rarely felt likely to lose the first Test, this time they got themselves into danger of their own making.
A careless collapse of 5-19 on the third morning opened the door for a Pakistan side with form for impressive chases – in July they knocked off 342 to beat Sri Lanka.
With England’s spinners unable to exert control and the pace bowlers seemingly out of the magic deliveries they produced on Sunday, Pakistan inched closer. A growing crowd at a ground hosting its first Test since 2006 cheered every run.
But Wood, in his first Test since March and bowling with the travelling England fans in the stand behind him, made the telling intervention.
It was not without controversy. TV umpire Joel Wilson took an age looking at replays of Ollie Pope’s diving catch off Shakeel, trying to determine whether or not the ball scraped the ground after the wicketkeeper took in his gloves.
The vital decision went England’s way and Pakistan’s best hope was gone.
Victory gives England their eighth in nine Tests since Ben Stokes took charge, the series win ends a run of three successive defeats away from home.
England has the opportunity for another piece of history in Karachi – never before has Pakistan lost three Tests in a series in their own country.
