Pakistan debutant Abrar Ahmed spins magic as England all out for 281
Abid grabs seven wickets for 114 runs, Zahid gets three wickets: Pakistan make three changes with Faheem Ashraf, Nawaz, debutant Abrar Ahmed replacing Naseem Shah, Haris Raud, Azhar Ali: England choose Mark Wood in place of Livingstone
December 9, 2022 10:38 AM
Pakistan debutant Abrar Ahmed mesmerised England on Friday, grabbing seven wickets as the visitors were bundled out for 281 runs on the opening day of the second Test in Multan, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.
The 24-year-old -- nicknamed "Harry Potter" by friends because he wears glasses similar to those of the fictional boy wizard -- spun magic of his own after England won the toss and decided to bat on a turning pitch.
Abrar Ahmed returned with first innings figures of seven wickets by giving away 114 runs in 22 overs. All the remaining three wickets were claimed by Zahid Mahmood for 63 runs.
He dismissed Zak Crawley (19), Ben Duckett (63) and Joe Root (eight) in the first two hours, before sending Ollie Pope (60) and Harry Brook (nine) on their way. After lunch, he clean-bowled captain Ben Stokes (30) and trapped lbw Will Jacks (31).
Abrar Ahmed became the 13th Pakistani bowler to take five or more wickets in an innings on debut.
It was in complete contrast to the first Test, when England smashed 174-0 by lunch on the opening day.
Pakistan, aiming to level the series after losing the first Test by 74 runs, included three spinners in the line-up after paceman Naseem Shah was ruled out with a shoulder injury.
Despite losing wickets regularly, England scored at a brisk pace, with Duckett knocking nine boundaries and a six and Pope cracking five to the rope.
Pakistan captain Babar Azam employed spin as early as in the ninth over, and Ahmed bowled Crawley with a sharp incoming delivery with his fifth Test ball.
He then trapped Duckett and Root leg-before -- both given out only after Azam reviewed the on-field calls.
Scoreboard
England 1st innings
Z. Crawley b Ahmed 19
B. Duckett lbw b Ahmed 63
O. Pope c Shafique b Ahmed 60
J. Root lbw b Ahmed 8
H. Brook c Nawaz b Ahmed 9
B. Stokes b Ahmed 30
W. Jacks lbw b Ahmed 31
O. Robinson c Nawaz b Mahmood 5
M. Wood not out 36
J. Leach b Mahmood 0
J. Anderson b Mahmood 7
Extras: (b1, lb12) 13
Total: (all out; 51.4 overs) 281
Fall of wickets: 1-38 (Crawley), 2-117 (Duckett), 3-145 (Root), 4-164 (Pope), 5-167 (Brook), 6-228 (Stokes), 7-231 (Jacks), 8-245 (Robinson), 9-245 (Leach)
Bowling: Ashraf 4-1-16-0, Ali 6-1-29-0, Ahmed 22-1-114-7, Mahmood 7.4-0-63-3, Nawaz 12-0-46-0,
Toss: England
Umpires: Marais Erasmus (RSA) and Aleem Dar (PAK)
TV umpire: Joel Wilson (WIS)
Match referee: Andy Pycroft (ZIM)