ISLAMABAD: Fast bowler Mark Wood handed his side a 26-run victory over Pakistan on Monday at the Multan Cricket Stadium as the visitors clinched the three-match Test series 2-0, fending off a Pakistan fightback.
England’s fast bowler Mark Wood on Monday took three wickets on Day 4 to put Pakistan in trouble as the two sides faced each other in the second Test of the series at Multan.
Shakeel’s impressive stand against the English side was put to a rest by Wood, who had him caught behind at 94 runs. Shakeel missed out on what could have been a match-winning maiden Test century.
He clean-bowled Zahid Mahmood and from then on, all looked lost for Pakistan.
Earlier, Wood had also broken through the dangerous partnership of Mohammad Nawaz and Shakeel by dismissing the former, who was caught by Ollie Pope off his delivery.
Spinner Abrar Ahmed looked dangerous with the bat, smashing four boundaries and scoring 17 off 12 before he was dismissed by James Anderson.
Openers Abdullah Shafique and Muhammad Rizwan scored 45 and 30 respectively while Saud Shakeel remained not out on 54. Multan’s own Imam-ul-Haq impressed with 60 from 104 balls before Jack Leach removed him, swinging the game back in England’s favor.
Pakistan, however, will be delighted with mystery spinner Ahmed’s talents with the ball. After his first innings figures of 7/114, he managed to pull in impressive numbers in England’s second innings as well, finishing with 4/120.
Wood, on the other hand, finished with figures of 4/65 while Anderson took 2/44 and Ollie Robinson 2/23. Joe Root and Jack Leach took one wicket each.
The two sides will meet each other next in Karachi for the third and final Test from December 17-21.