England’s Brydon Carse Secures First Test Wicket as Team Battles to Slow Pakistan’s Momentum
In Multan, on the second day of the Test match, Brydon Carse claimed his maiden Test wicket as England made efforts to halt Pakistan’s charge. The first day had seen Pakistan take control with Abdullah Shafique and Shan Masood scoring centuries. However, with three wickets falling in the evening session and the advent of the second new ball, England harboured hopes of a comeback.
By lunch on the second day, Pakistan had reached 397 for six, maintaining their dominant position although not as convincingly as when they were 261 for one on the previous evening. Saud Shakeel’s steady unbeaten 67 kept English hopes at bay. Carse’s dismissal of nightwatchman Naseem Shah and Jack Leach’s removal of Mohammed Rizwan for a duck helped level the playing field.
Despite initial frustrations, England persisted, with Chris Woakes and Gus Atkinson’s early spells resulting in no breakthroughs except for a helmet blow to Naseem. The lack of substantial turn also failed to excite Shoaib Bashir and Leach. A partnership of 64 runs between Shakeel and Shah, though controlled, sporadically sprang to life when Shah decided to take on the spinners.
Shah’s audacious sixes off the spinners stung the English side who had anticipated an easier dismissal. Shakeel reached his fifty with a calculated sweep but might have been too measured against an English squad that could have crumbled under more aggression. Consequently, England managed to keep the Pakistani scoreboard within reach.
In his 19th over on his Test debut, Carse executed a well-laid trap to dismiss Naseem, targeting the hip and inducing a catch to Harry Brook at leg-slip. Despite a touch of weariness in his celebration, Carse’s breakthrough offered England a glimmer of hope. Rizwan then faltered, throwing away the advantage with a swift 12-ball duck, falling to a Leach delivery that was caught at mid-off.
The contest between Pakistan and England continues at Multan, with both teams striving for a crucial edge in this intense Test match.