| Second Test, Multan (day one of five) |
| England 281: Duckett 63 (49), Pope 60 (61); Abrar 7-114 |
| Pakistan 107-2: Babar 61* (76) |
| Pakistan trail by 174 runs |
| Scorecard |
Pakistan leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed took a sensational seven wickets on debut to bowl England out for 281 on the first day of the second Test in Multan.
The 24-year-old took advantage of a pitch offering excessive turn to record the best figures by any spinner on Test debut for 14 years.
When he took the first seven wickets to fall he was on course to become the first bowler to take all 10 in an innings on Test debut.
But Zahid Mahmood nipped in with the last three, still ensuring that every England wicket fell to leg-spin.
Ben Duckett made 63 and Ollie Pope 60 for England, who at different stages lost four wickets for 17 runs and four for 50 after winning the toss.
In such conditions, England may rue an XI that includes four pace bowlers and only one frontline spinner in Jack Leach.
Still, James Anderson removed Imam-ul-Haq for a duck before Leach had Abdullah Shafique also caught behind.
Pakistan captain Babar Azam remains, ominously poised on 61. He added 56 with Saud Shakeel, who attacked in his 32 not out as the hosts closed on 107-2, 174 behind.
England, 1-0 up in the three-match series, are chasing a first Test series win over Pakistan outside of the UK for 22 years.
Multan pitch adds layer of intrigue
This was another helter-skelter day in what could eventually turn into a truly memorable series.
Whereas England’s thrilling first-Test win came on an unresponsive pitch in Rawalpindi, the Multan surface spun from the outset and instantly added a layer of intrigue to the contest.
Undeterred, or maybe even spurred on, by the conditions, England continued with their eagerness to attack with the bat, scoring at almost 5.5 runs an over.
But they were checked by some beguiling bowling from Abrar, who delighted a home crowd that half-filled the vast Multan stadium, a ground that has not hosted a Test for 16 years.
Given the conditions, England’s total could yet prove competitive. However, the tourists do seem to have misread the pitch. Leach opened the bowling, while seamer Ollie Robinson is yet to feature.
Their chief concern will be how to remove the classy Babar, batting at number three after Pakistan made the big call to omit experienced former skipper Azhar Ali.
More to follow.
