PAK vs ENG: Abrar Ahmed takes 7 wickets on test debut against England

Abrar made his debut with seven picks, including five in the morning session. England trounced for 281.

Both sides delivered punches and quick jabs on an enthralling day of test match cricket, but the revelation of the day was debutant mystery spinner Abrar Ahmed, who finished with 7/114 on debut.

Abrar Ahmed took a five-wicket haul on his first morning of Test cricket in Multan, as England slumped to 180 for five before lunch.

England showed no signs of loosening up on their offensive intent, which resulted in their triumph in the first Test, but Pakistan had five wickets by the first interval this time.

Both Ollie Pope and Ben Duckett hit half-centuries, but neither could sustain their innings as debutant Abrar proved too much for England’s top order.

The spinner, one of three replacements for the second Test, struck in his first over, spinning a googly past Zak Crawley’s defense. However, Duckett and Pope both took on the spinners after that. The duo put Pakistan on a leather hunt with a slew of sweeps and reverse sweeps all over the Multan Cricket Stadium.

Following the intermission, Ben Stokes and Wil Jacks were putting together a solid partnership until rookie Abrar castled Ben Stokes with a Jaffa. The wrong ‘un who pitched outside the leg stump to knock the bails off saw England’s skipper depart. Will Jacks was quickly sent back after failing to clear the on side. England, who appeared to be on course for another big score, collapsed to 281 as compatriot leggie took a three-for to end the game. England still managed to score fifty runs for the final three wickets, due to a free-striking Mark Wood who finished with 36 before Zahid Mahmood got three to quickly end the innings.

Brief Scores: England 281 (Ben Duckett 63, Ollie Pope 60; Abrar Ahmed 7-114) vs Pakistan