Pakistan lost the key wicket of half centurion Imam-ul-Haq late on the third day to give England renewed hope in the second cricket test on Sunday. Pakistan finished the day on 198-4. Needs a further 157 to deny England a second successive victory in the three-match series.

England, which held a 79-run first-innings lead, had set up another imposing target of 355 runs. A deteriorating Multan Cricket Stadium wicket after it was bowled out for 275 in its second innings. The tourists had already successfully defended 342 runs. On a flat wicket in the first test to clinch a 74-run win at Rawalpindi in England’s first test in Pakistan for 17 years.

Solid stuff in the final session 👏

All to play for on Day Four.#PAKvENG | #UKSePK pic.twitter.com/r5xL4zvpBJ

— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) December 11, 2022

The lefthanded pair of Imam, who made 60, and Saud Shakeel (54 not out) had thwarted England seam and spin for just over 2-1/2 hours. Shared a 108-run stand before Imam played a lose drive against Jack Leach. The lefthander put his head down in despair before leaving the field as Leach provided the much-needed breakthrough.

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Both lefthanded batters showed grit and determination and used their feet well against England’s spinners until Imam’s miscue. England had earlier missed an opportunity to dismiss Imam soon after he completed his half-century. Television replays showed a tiny spike on Imam’s bat when he tried to glance Mark Wood down the legside delivery. However, captain Ben Stokes didn’t go for the referral.

Third fifty in four innings – @saudshak shows his class once again 🌟#PAKvENG | #UKSePK pic.twitter.com/iUUvvh4loG

— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) December 11, 2022

James Anderson, OIlie Robinson and Wood had baffled Pakistan with a superb display of seam and swing bowling in the middle session. Claiming three wickets for 17 runs before Imam and Shakeel dug in and took Pakistan to 136-3 at tea.

Abrar Ahmed provided the mystery and the mastery that Pakistan’s attack had so lacked in Rawalpindi last week. To rush to stunning debut figures of 7 for 114 in 22 overs in a sensational fast-forwarded second Test in Multan. By tea, Abrar had become the third Pakistan cricketer to take seven wickets in his debut Test innings, and was on course to claim all ten. Fellow legspinner Zahid Mahmood got in on the act with the final three wickets of the innings. Including two in two to pick off wickets eight and nine.

Nevertheless, with Bob Massie and Narendra Hirwani’s historic debuts still out there as inspiration, the prospect of further records in the second innings for Abrar seem very much on the cards. England’s Bazballing batters certainly won’t be clamming up against his threat in a hurry. Despite a significantly more adverse scenario than they had faced on the flattest of decks in the first Tes. Stokes’ men still hurtled along with their new fearless approach. Racking up their 281 runs at a rate of 5.43 across 51.4 overs. En route, they even set a new Test record in an extended two-and-a-half-hour morning session, reaching lunch on 180 for 5 from 32 overs.

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Abrar becomes 3rd Pakistani cricketer to take 7 wickets on debut

The most runs ever made in the first session of a match, and eclipsing the 174 for 0 they had put up at the same stage in Rawalpindi. It all made for a fascinating battle of punch and counter-punch. In conditions that could not have been further removed from the bat-dominant first Test. When Mark Wood’s long handle picked off eight fours in an unbeaten 36 from 27 balls in a priceless last-wicket stand with James Anderson. England might even have felt they were above par for the conditions.

But with Abrar in Pakistan’s ranks, they have a weapon that England will struggle to match. England are no longer a team prepared to wait for the ball with their name on it in such conditions. Not even the loss of Zak Crawley to a sublime googly in Abrar’s first over could persuade them to temper their aggression for long. Having stood tall to the seamers to punch three trademark fours through the covers. Crawley was bowled clean through the gate for 19 from 37 balls as Abrar. With little discernible change of action, flicked out a fifth-ball wrong’un to take out the top of off stump.

PAK vs ENG, 1st Test Preview

Pakistan and England begin their three-match Test series in Rawalpindi on Thursday morning. This is the first time that England have toured Pakistan for a Test series since 2005. Pakistan lost their last Test against Sri Lanka in a drawn series whereas England beat South Africa at home this summer. Pakistan have a strong record at home in Test cricket and will back themselves to have the upperhand with both bat and ball in this game. Patient batting will be required and Pakistan have the players to do that. England come into this series after a successful home summer but playing Pakistan away is a completely different proposition. They will play in an attacking manner but getting a win would be a huge achievement.

PAK vs ENG, 1st Test Details

Pakistan vs England – 1st Test

Venue: Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium – Rawalpindi

Date & Time: 01st December at 10:00 AM IST 

Live Streaming: Star Sports Network

PAK vs ENG, 1st Test Pitch Report

Only 14 wickets fell in the last Test Match in Rawalpindi and we are expecting another batter-friendly surface for this game. A par first-innings total on this wicket will be over 450. There is no rain forecast across all five scheduled days of this Test Match with the temperature expected to get above 20 degrees on each day. 

Injury News

No Injury. Will be added when there is an update

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PAK vs ENG, 1st Test Probable Playing XIs:

England Probable Playing XIs

Zak Crawley, Keaton Jennings, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (c), Liam Livingstone, Ben Foakes (wk), Ollie Robinson, James Anderson, Jack Leach

Pakistan Probable Playing XIs

Abdullah Shafiq, Imam-ul-Haq, Babar Azam (c), Mohammad Rizwan, Azhar Ali, Salman Ali Agha, Mohammad Nawaz, Haris Rauf, Naseem Shah, Abrar Ahmed, Nauman Ali

Topmost Picks for PAK vs ENG Dream11 Prediction, 1st Test:

Top Picks – England

• Ben Stokes– The all-rounder has turned the fortunes of England’s Test side around since taking on the captaincy earlier this year. He played a match-winning innings in the T20 World Cup Final and rarely lets England down.

• Joe Root– The former skipper has scored 973 runs at an average of 51.21 this year. He is comfortable against pace or spin and will be keen to add a century in Pakistan to his Test career tally of 28.

Top Picks – Pakistan

• Babar Azam– The 28 year old skipper has an excellent record at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. He averages 91.50 from five innings with a top score of 143 at this venue.

• Naseem Shah– The 19 year old fast bowler has had an excellent start to his international career and has impressed across all formats. He has 33 Test wickets so far.

Suggested Playing XI N0.1 for PAK vs ENG Dream11 Team:

Mohammad Rizwan, Imam-ul-Haq, Babar Azam(VC), Zak Crawley, Ollie Pope, Joe Root(C), Ben Stokes, Ollie Robinson, James Anderson, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Wasim

Suggested Playing XI N0.2 for PAK vs ENG Dream11 Team:

Mohammad Rizwan(VC), Shan Masood, Babar Azam, Harry Brook, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Ben Stokes(C), Jack Leach, James Anderson, Haris Rauf, Naseem Shah

Captain and Vice-Captain Options:

Captain – Ben Stokes, Joe Root

Vice-captain – Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan

Wicketkeeper – Mohammad Rizwan

PAK vs ENG 1st Test Probable winners:

England won home series against New Zealand and South Africa by playing an attacking brand of cricket but they will need to show good defensive batting technique in this Test. Pakistan’s batters have more experience of flat wickets. This game is a re-run of the T20 World Cup Final from Melbourne earlier this month but there will be many different players on show on both sides. Although England have been in excellent form since Ben Stokes took over the captaincy, we think that playing Pakistan in Rawalpindi will be their toughest task of the year. We predict that Pakistan’s batters will find it easier to score runs without taking big risks and are backing Pakistan to win. Considering the team combination, Pakistan is expected to win this match.

England should consider picking David Willey for Sunday’s T20 World Cup final against Pakistan, as he may be a better fit for the MCG than Chris Jordan. That is the view of Eoin Morgan, their ex-captain, who has been following the team around Australia in his new role as a pundit for Sky Sports. Jordan, a key player in T20Is throughout Morgan’s tenure. Replaced the injured Mark Wood in the England team for Thursday’s semi-final win against India at Adelaide Oval.

He returned figures of 3 for 43 across his four overs and was singled out for praise by Buttler. Who said Jordan had delivered “a hell of a performance” after being asked to bowl three of the last five overs. But Morgan suggested the dimensions at the MCG. Where the straight boundaries are slightly shorter than at Adelaide Oval but the square boundaries are considerably longer. Might not suit his yorker-heavy method at the death. Suggested England could bring Willey into the side in a bid to take early wickets.

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The all-round performance and variation of Willy is vital at this pitch

Asked on Sky’s Cricket Podcast how big a loss Wood would be if he fails to recover in time for Sunday’s final, Morgan said: “When you look at conditions here, it just suits him and it probably works against someone like Chris Jordan at the death bowling his yorkers. Straight at the MCG, it’s so short. There’s very little margin for error. “If Mark Wood isn’t fit, you might even see someone like Dave Willey come in to swing it, and then you can bowl him and Chris Woakes at the death. Bowling into the wicket, forcing the Pakistan batters to hit square and creating catching opportunities. There might be another selection question for Jos Buttler.

“It goes without saying, you have to have those ground dimensions working in your favour in big games. Because if you make basic mistakes and get hit to the short side the whole time, you’re going to be up against it.” Morgan was also asked about the possibility that the final could be decided by a Super Over. Like the 50-over World Cup final in 2019, and who he would choose to bowl one for England. “If you were to say flat wicket. Everything set fair at the MCG, I think it’d be Sam Curran,” he said.