Rawalpindi-(Sports Reporter): Pakistan mounted an impressive comeback against England, with Sajid Khan and Noman Ali delivering strong performances both with the ball and the bat, positioning the hosts favorably on day two of the third Test at the Pindi Cricket Stadium in Rawalpindi on Friday.
Pakistan faced a rough start, losing four early wickets at the beginning of the day, but Saud Shakeel’s determined 134 off 223 balls anchored the innings. Known as one of Pakistan’s premier red-ball batsmen, Shakeel showcased his talent, well-supported by Noman Ali (45) and Sajid Khan (48), helping Pakistan reach a total of 344 before being bowled out in the 97th over.
For England, Rehan Ahmed stood out with four wickets for 66 runs, followed by Shoaib Bashir, who took three for 129, Gus Atkinson with two for 22, and Jack Leach, who claimed one wicket.
Starting their second innings with a 77-run deficit, England found themselves struggling as the Sajid-Noman duo struck again. They dismissed Zak Crawley (2), Ben Duckett (12), and Ollie Pope (1), reducing England to 24-3 in the 9th over before bad light halted play. Joe Root, who had scored a double-century in the first Test, and triple-centurion Harry Brook remained at the crease as England faced a precarious situation.
A key highlight of the day was Shakeel’s two partnerships with Pakistan’s spinners. First, he and Noman put together an 88-run stand off 151 balls, followed by a 72-run partnership off 78 balls with Sajid, solidifying Pakistan’s stance against Ben Stokes’ side.
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