Pakistan reached 515 for 8 at tea on the first day of the Multan Test against England, thanks to solid contributions from Saud Shakeel and Salman Agha. The team surpassed the 500-run mark, building on a strong foundation set by Shan Masood and Abdullah Shafique on day one.
Although England managed to take two wickets during the middle session, with Brydon Carse claiming his second on debut, Pakistan maintained their progress, albeit inconsistently. Salman’s aggressive approach against England’s spinners proved crucial in pushing the score past 500, establishing a position from which they could control the match despite Brendon McCullum’s aggressive style of play.
Salman, who was scoreless at lunch, quickly made his intentions clear after the break by striking a boundary off the first ball. He showcased his attacking prowess, hitting Jack Leach for four fours and two sixes in a captivating spell. There was a moment of drama when Chris Woakes nearly caught a six at long-off, but the third umpire ruled he was out of bounds when making the catch.
While Salman led the charge, Shakeel built his innings patiently before Shoaib Bashir dismissed him with a sharp turning delivery that caught him out for a watchful 88. Carse soon added another wicket, dismissing Aamer Jamal lbw.
Pakistan’s morning session featured Shakeel’s steady performance, as he achieved his 10th 50-plus score in just 13 Tests. Nightwatchman Naseem Shah also played a key role, scoring 33 runs and frustrating England’s bowlers for over 90 minutes. His partnership with Shakeel included three sixes and a stand of 64, ensuring England could not find an easy way back into the game.
Despite some breakthroughs, Pakistan stayed in a strong position. Their ambitions faced a brief interruption before the interval when Mohammad Rizwan was dismissed without scoring.
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