England continued to make life difficult for Pakistan, winning the Multan Test by an innings and 47 runs. In their second innings, Pakistan managed to score only 220 runs for 9 wickets, with Abrar Ahmed unable to bat on Day 5 due to a high fever that sent him to the hospital.
On the fourth day, Pakistan was struggling at 152 for 6, with Aamer Jamal and Agha Salman trying to save the game. Their task was tough as they aimed to avoid losing by an innings. The start was shaky when Jamal nearly got out to Atkinson, but after that, he and Salman scored 39 runs together until the drinks break. Soon after, Jack Leach bowled Salman out, hitting him in front of the stumps.
Jamal then played aggressively, scoring a brilliant fifty. He got lucky when Ollie Pope dropped a catch, but Leach continued to bowl well, dismissing Shaheen Afridi with a stunning catch and then getting rid of Naseem Shah to secure England's victory and take the lead in the series.
During the match broadcast, it was highlighted that Pakistan cricket is in a tough spot. Since 2022, they are the only team that hasn't won a Test match at home, losing 7 out of 11 games.
After a disappointing series loss to Bangladesh, the Pakistan team needed to step up against England. They showed potential in the first innings by scoring 556 runs, with centuries from Abdullah Shafique, captain Shan Masood, and Agha Salman. However, main players like Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan continued to struggle, and the bowlers lacked ideas or motivation. Joe Root and Harry Brook from England dominated on Days 3 and 4, leaving Pakistan clueless.
Apart from Saud Shakeel, who bowled just 2 overs for 14 runs, all other Pakistani bowlers conceded over 100 runs. Although the coaching staff has changed, there doesn’t seem to be a new approach from Jason Gillespie and his team. This defeat will likely lead to more scrutiny of the team.
When England's aggressive style, known as "Bazball," came to Pakistan in 2022, it captured fans' attention. Harry Brook stood out, scoring 468 runs in 5 innings at an impressive average of 93.6. In the Multan Test, he scored 317 runs, showing he’s likely to break records. Nasser Hussain described him as a mix of Kevin Pietersen and Joe Root, and Brook is seen as the next big thing for England. If he keeps this form, he will be a significant challenge for Pakistan in the upcoming second Test starting on October 15.
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