Mark Wood grabbed four Pakistan wick﷽ets to hand England a series-clinching 26-run victory in the second Test at the Multan Cricket Stadium and take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.
The fast bowler finished with 4-ﷺ65 as Pakistan were bundled out for 328 in the post-lunch session on Day 4, having been given a challenging ta🍨rget of 355.
Wood, who missed the first Test in Rawalpindi due to a hip injury, turned the match in England’s favour with the wickets of well-settled Mohammad Nawaz (45) and Saud Shakeel (94) in the space of just 12 balls.
Pakistan went down to 291-7 at lunch, and after the break, Agha Salman (20 not out) and Abrar Ahmed (17) tried their best to pull off an unlikely win for their side and keep the series alive. But James Anderson dismissed Ahmed, Wood cleaned up Zahid Mahmood (0) and Ollie Robinson picked up the wicket of number eleven Mohammad Ali (0), sparking celebrations in th💞e Three Lions camp.
“We had a look at the wicket and it was tricky against slow bowling, but as the game progressed the cracks opened up and our seamers came into the game,” said the winning captain Ben Stokes in the post-match presentation.
“The way in which Jimmy and Robbo bowled in the series and our spinners as well, they are going to deliver more often that not [referring to himself not bowling in the second Test].”
Here’s how Twitter reacted:
Great Test match .. Pakistan did so well to get back into the game .. but Winning a series in Pakistan is a incredible achievement .. One of the hardest places to a win .. England are a brilliant test team to watch .. plus they once again got Selection spot on ..♈
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan)
8️⃣ wins fromܫ 9️⃣ Tests under the coach and skipper 👏
We're on to something good.
🇵🇰 🏴
— England Cricket (@englandcricket)
If other countr💞ies don’t follow England and their style of play, they are fo♎ols!
Anot🔴her brilওliant win in Pakistan and creating history once again! 🏴
— Alexandra Hartley (@AlexHartley93)
Absorbing cricket all through, great contest, tense finish. What a series this has been! England continue to redefine the tenor and texture o♏f the 5-day format. Pakistan may have lost but put up gallant, admirable fight
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah)
They took quite a few risks, and the reward is a historic series win! Congra👍tulations and 👏🏽👏🏽
— Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14)
Pakistan just can’t win against England, England have been crushing them in every🍃 format.
— Sushant Mehta (@SushantNMehta)
England knock Pakistan out of WTC 2021-23
— betvisa69.com (@CricketTimesHQ)
is a very, very, very good captain.
— Adam Gilchrist (@gilly381)
A SERIES WIN IN PAKISTAN.
This team is something else🏴🏴🏴�🐎�🏴🏴�ꦬ�
— England's Barmy Army 🏴🎺 (@TheBarmyArmy)
Another wonderful victory for 🙌
— Lord's Cricket Ground (@HomeOfCricket)
A valiant chase from Pakistan but this England team seem to just win games by sh🦂eer force of will. The first time England have won 2 consecutive tests in Pakistan. They take an unassailableಞ 2-0 lead headed to the final test in Karachi.
— Aatif Nawaz (@AatifNawaz)
