PAK vs ENG

That brings us to the end of the second test match of this 3-match series between Pakistan and England. Pakistan have leveled it up at 1-1 with a famous win and that has set it up nicely for the third and final test match at Rawalpindi starting on the 24th. Hope you enjoyed the coverage! Time for me (Sourabh) to take your leave on behalf of Lavil and the entire team. Meanwhile, you can hop on to here to follow the ongoing test match between India and New Zeland live. Take care!

Shan Masood (Pakistan Captain): The first one is really special, it has come after a long time. A lot has gone through in the last week, really proud of the group. The guys have put in the hard work, you can never doubt the efforts. It has come after a long time, more than 2 years. really special. We kept talking about doing the good things, big first-inning score and taking 20 wickets.  A change of strategy for us, we went for the green tops against Bangladesh. We have not played a lot of test cricket in Multan, only the one which was two years ago. Noman and Sajid coming in, never easy for them but they looked like real seasoned campaigners. Zahid didn't bowl too much but he supported well in the field, we all tried to and backed them. It is really special for Kamran. Coming in and replacing one of the best batters, I read some of the things before the game and that were horrid. Can't imagine what it must have been for him. But from the get go, he looked like he belonged. Agha is one of my favorite players, always a team player. 

Ben Stokes(England Captain): Not at all (on tempering the approach). If you look throughout the match, the guys who got success were the ones who played aggressive cricket. Standing at slips, if any Pakistan batters were defending we felt in the game. Duckett's century showed us the way in the first innings and for them too the guys who played the sweeps got success. For us, a couple of guys, specially me would have liked to go for longer. I don't like to live in hindsight, obviously no one likes to drop catches. You don't get chances too often behind the wickets, you need to take them. In conditions like this, the spinners get the mention but I think Potts and Carse bowled really well, kept charging in. It is good (his hamstring). Worked hard to get fit for this game, nothing can prepare you for standing as long as we did on the field. A break fnow and whoever does well in the third one will take the series.

Sajid Khan is the Player of the Match for his nine wickets in the contest. Here is what he has to say: The last couple of series have been tough for us. We wanted to win it and we were able to win. The celebration gives me energy and so does the crowd. Nomi bhai is one of the most experienced players. He shares his experience with us and the partnership was great and enjoyed a lot. I got out in the first inning and in the second innings the management told that support Agha Salman. Credit to Kamran Ghulam on his debut (Translated from Urdu)

11:45 AM Local Time (12:15 PM IST):

Pakistan win by 152 runs and level the 3-match series 1-1

Kamran Ghulam 118(224) & 26(39) | Noman Ali 3/101 & 8/46
Ben Duckett 114(129) & 0(2) | Jack Leach 4/114 & 3/67

Absolute jubilation in the stands in Multan and amongst the Pakistan camp as Pakistan win a home test match after 1349 days and 11 unsuccessful attempts

Pakistan had their backs against the wall, they were coming in off the back of a hammering at the same venue a week ago and there were things said left-right and center about the state of the game in the country but they have took the bold way, some bold calls which made a lot of headlines and here they are with a result that the entire nation was yearning for. And mind you, the headlines ain't stopping anytime soon, they might just increase with this performance from Pakistan.

At the very start of the match, in fact even before the start, Pakistan announced their team for this match and there were 4 changes to their line-up from the first match and as we look back at this match, 3 of them have turned out with match-winning performances for them.

First of all, let us talk about the 29-year old Kamran Ghulam. He got his national-call up finally after some prolific years in the domestic circuit of Pakistan and was straightaway thrown into the firing line as he walked out at 19/2 on the first morning of the test. The young man (if we may call him) showed what he was made up of and in combination with another youngster in Saim Ayub bailed Pakistan out of a tricky situation with a 149-run stand for the 3rd wicket. While Saim fell for 77, Kamran went on to become the 13th Pakistan batter to score a century on debut on the back of which Pakistan got to 366 in the first innings.

It was the turn of England batters and they were coming on the back of a 800-plus score in the first test and with the way they started it looked tough for Pakistan with England blazing off to a rapid start. Duckett was sweeping the spinners off their lines and lengths and it seemed as if Pakistan would rue their selection of only one pacer in their line-up. But, then came an inspired spell from Sajid Khan on the second evening which saw England slip 211/2 to 225/6 in a matter of minutes. Sajid, eventually went on to pick 7 in the innings as England conceded a 75-run lead in the first innings.

England bowlers made life difficult for the Pakistan batters in the third innings with regular wickets but contributions from Kamran, Saud, Rizwan and a brilliant 63-run inning from Salman Ali Agha who stitched a 65-run stand for the ninth wicket with Sajid Khan gave England 297 to chase in the fourth innings on a wicket which was turning big by now.

England tried their best, they went all-out with their sweeps but the Pakistan spinners were too good for them. None of the batters were able to stay at the crease for long enough as Noman and Sajid bowled unchanged for 30-plus overs over the course of two sessions and skittled England out for 144 giving Pakistan a much-deserved victory. Noman was the hero for them scalping 8 wickets in the fourth innings taking 11 in the match along with Sajid's 9.

33.3 Noman Ali to Shoaib Bashir, CAUGHT! PAKISTAN WIN! Their first at home since 3 years, 8 months and 11 days! Length delivery outside the off stump, Bashir looks to defend that one but gets a leading edge that is caught by the man at silly point. Pakistan beat England by 152 runs and level the three match Test series 1-1

Shoaib Bashir c Abdullah Shafique b Noman Ali 0(1b, 0x4, 0x6).

NOMAN HAS 10 WICKETS IN THE MATCH!! He wins the race against his mate Sajid at the other end and he has put in an absolute masterclass of left-arm spin. England are on the brink now!

33.2 Noman Ali to Jack Leach, CAUGHT! Length delivery on the line of the off stump, Leach looks to blocks it but gets an inside edge and is caught by forward short leg. They check and there is a spike on UltraEdge. Pakistan are only a wicket away from a home win!

Jack Leach c Abdullah Shafique b Noman Ali 1(9b, 0x4, 0x6).

32.6 Sajid Khan to Matthew Potts, FOUR! Full and outside off, Potts brings out the reverse sweep and sends it racing to the fence for a boundary to end the over

WICKET MAIDEN! Both the spinners, Noman and Sajid have now got 9 in the match. Who will get to their 10-fer for the match first? Will both of them get it with 2 wickets remaining?