Noman Ali has claimed eight wickets as Pakistan’s frontline spinners bowled the hosts to a 152-run win over England in the second Test in Multan.
Pakistan levelled the three-Test series at 1-1 after England was all out for 144 during the fourth day’s morning session.
Skipper Ben Stokes was the top scorer for England with 37 but the tourists’ top-order batters struggled against the turning ball.
Noman was the pick of the Pakistan bowlers with 8-46.
Pakistan was already in the ascendancy when England resumed on 2-36, needing an extraordinary batting effort to get anywhere near the victory target of 297.
Vice-captain Ollie Pope (22) fell in the second over of the day, giving off-spinner Sajid Khan a return catch before left-arm spinner Noman ran amok.
Noman dealt England a body blow when he trapped Joe Root LBW for 18, a decision the batter reviewed but could not get overturned.
Harry Brook (16) fell to Noman in a similar fashion and England slumped to 6-88 when Jamie Smith was sent packing.
Stokes has played some match-defining knocks in his illustrious career and England badly needed a similar innings from the all-rounder.
Scoring at a run-a-ball rate, Stokes came dancing down the track against Noman and swung his bat only for it to fly out of his hands to midwicket.
Pakistan wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan had all the time in the world to collect the ball and whip off the bail with Stokes well out of the crease.
England had won the first Test in Multan by an innings and 47 runs.
The third and final Test begins in Rawalpindi on Thursday.
Reuters