In the second Test against Pakistan, England suffered a heavy defeat by 152 runs while chasing a target of 297 in Multan. Despite early struggles, captain Ben Stokes, making his return from injury, played a quick-fire 37 off 36 balls.
However, his innings ended bizarrely and memorably which left fans and viewers in stitches. As Stokes tried to launch Pakistan’s spinner Noman Ali for six, he not only mistimed the shot but also lost control of his bat.
The bat flew through the air, and Stokes lost his balance. To make matters worse, he was stumped by wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan after stepping out of his crease.
England’s Struggles in the Match
Stokes’ dismissal left England in deep trouble at 125/7, with 172 runs still needed to win. His departure marked the end of England’s recognized batting order, and they eventually crumbled under pressure. It wasn’t an ideal return to Test cricket for Stokes, who had missed England’s previous series due to injury.
The bat goes flying and Rizwan does the rest behind the stumps 🎯
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) October 18, 2024
Noman Ali outfoxes the England captain ☝️#PAKvENG | #TestAtHome pic.twitter.com/Q2a2GtfmsV
The middle-order collapse had already set the team back, and Stokes’ unfortunate dismissal further cemented their defeat. Despite his entertaining attempt to rescue the innings, England was outclassed by a dominant Pakistan side.
Pakistan’s Newcomers Shine
Pakistan’s victory was largely credited to the performances of their newer players. Before the match, there was some controversy around the decision to rest key players like Babar Azam, Shaheen Afridi, and Naseem Shah.
However, their replacements delivered exceptional performances. Kamran Ghulam, making his debut, scored a crucial century in the first innings. Spinners Sajid Khan and Noman Ali were instrumental with the ball, taking all 20 England wickets.
Sajid took seven in the first innings, while Noman picked up eight in the second. Noman’s return to the Test team at the age of 38 was particularly impressive, but it was Sajid who claimed the Player of the Match award for his seven-wicket haul in the first innings, helping Pakistan secure a commanding victory.
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