In a remarkable turnaround, Pakistan has triumphed over England in the second Test in Multan, breaking an 11-Test winless streak at home and securing their first Test victory in 15 months. This significant milestone ends a prolonged drought of 44 months without a home Test win, bringing relief and celebration to cricket fans across the nation.
The match was dominated by Pakistan’s spin duo, Noman Ali and Sajid Khan, who delivered a masterclass in spin bowling. Noman shone brightly, claiming 11 wickets in the match, including an impressive 8 for 46 in the second innings. With this performance, he became the first Pakistani spinner to take 8 wickets in the fourth innings of a Test match, surpassing the previous best fourth-innings figures of 7 for 56 held by Mushtaq Ahmed against New Zealand in 1995. The all-time best for a Pakistani in a fourth innings remains Sarfraz Nawaz’s 9 for 86 against Australia in Melbourne in 1979.
Sajid also played a crucial role, taking 9 wickets in the match, making their combined effort a historic achievement. This marked only the seventh instance in Test history where two bowlers have taken all 20 wickets of the opposition. The last time this feat was accomplished by Pakistani bowlers was in 1956 when the legendary duo of Fazal Mahmood and Khan Mohammad took all wickets against Australia.
Furthermore, the Multan Test was notable for the fact that all 20 wickets for Pakistan were claimed by spinners. This marks only the third time that Pakistani spinners have collectively taken all 20 wickets in a match, with the last occurrence against England in Lahore in 1987, when Iqbal Qasim, Tauseef Ahmed, and Abdul Qadir achieved the same feat.
In another rare display of endurance, Noman and Sajid became the first Pakistani bowling duo in 30 years to bowl unchanged through an entire innings, a feat last achieved by Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis against Sri Lanka in Kandy in 1994.
This victory is particularly significant as it marks the end of the “curse” that had plagued Pakistan’s Test cricket for over a year. Fans can finally celebrate after a long wait, with the team last securing a win in August 2022. This win showcases a revitalised spin attack that underscores Pakistan’s deep cricketing heritage, particularly in spin bowling, setting a promising tone for future home matches.
