England found themselves in a tough spot after committing costly errors on day three of the Test match against Pakistan. The tourists closed the day at 36 for two, chasing a target of 297 runs in the fourth innings.
The day’s play saw England struggle against Pakistan’s spinners on a challenging Multan pitch. Ben Duckett, who had scored a century in the previous innings, was dismissed for a duck, while Zak Crawley fell for just three runs. England faced a tough battle against the spinners, losing six wickets for 88 runs.
England’s hopes took a hit due to two crucial dropped catches during the afternoon session. Despite showing resilience with the ball, England found themselves trailing as Pakistan’s batsmen gained momentum. Salman Agha’s knock of 63 proved pivotal in setting a challenging target for England.
The English spinners managed to pick up wickets, with Shoaib Bashir and Jack Leach making significant contributions. However, Sajid Khan’s seven-wicket haul in Pakistan’s first innings raised concerns for the England team.
England’s batting performance also faltered, losing their last eight wickets for 80 runs as Sajid Khan wreaked havoc with the ball. Pakistan’s bowlers, led by Shoaib Bashir, continued to put pressure on the English batsmen, increasing the gap between the two teams.
Despite a spirited effort from England’s bowlers, Pakistan extended their lead, with Salman and Sajid forming a crucial partnership. England faced an uphill task in their fourth-innings chase, with Duckett and Crawley falling victim to Pakistan’s spin attack.
The day ended with Pakistan in a dominant position, leaving England with a challenging target to chase in the final innings. England’s fielding lapses and struggles against spin bowling proved costly, putting them in a difficult position as the match approached its conclusion.