Pakistan finds itself teetering on the edge of defeat in the first Test at Multan, as the visiting England cricket team established an insurmountable target, akin to climbing Mount Everest. As of the latest updates, Pakistan’s batting line-up crumbled to a dismal 59 for 5 in their second innings, still trailing by 208 runs in the third session of the match.
In a stunning display of batting prowess, England declared their first innings at an astonishing 823 runs for 7 wickets, shattering the dreams of the hosts who had hoped to end their losing streak. Pakistan had initially posted a respectable total of 556 runs in their first innings, but England’s monumental effort rendered that score insignificant.
Key to England’s remarkable total were standout performances from Harry Brook and Joe Root. Brook notched an impressive 317 runs, while Root contributed a substantial 262. Both players achieved personal milestones on a flat pitch at the Multan Cricket Stadium, showcasing their dominance and skill.
This historic 823-run total marks only the second occasion in Test history that a team has surpassed 700 runs against Pakistan, the previous record being held by the West Indies, who scored 790 for 3 in 1958.
Earlier in the day, both Root and Brook propelled England beyond Pakistan’s first-innings total, with Root becoming the first English batter to accumulate 20,000 international runs. In a stroke of fortune, Root was dropped on 186 by Babar Azam, an error that would prove costly for the hosts. He capitalized on this reprieve, reaching his sixth double-century and celebrated by kissing the badge on his helmet, solidifying his position among England’s greatest batsmen.
Following the innings declaration, Pakistan had a rocky start to their second innings, with opener Abdullah Shafique falling to Chris Woakes for a duck on the very first ball. As captain Shan Masood (10*) and opener Saim Ayub (13*) took to the crease, Pakistan found itself in a precarious position at 23 for 1, still needing to overcome a substantial 244-run deficit.
The playing XI for both teams remains unchanged, with Pakistan relying on its seasoned players to pull off a miraculous turnaround in the remaining sessions. As the Multan Test progresses, the cricketing world watches closely to see if Pakistan can rise to the challenge or if England will secure a commanding victory.