Summary

  1. How's stat?!published at 08:02 British Summer Time

    Srinivas Vijaykumar
    Cricviz analyst

    Jack Leach is getting the ball to turn slightly more today with an average turn of 4.3° compared to 3.5° yesterday.

    He's also bowled slower which aids that extra turn. His average speed yesterday was 54.1mph, and down to 52mph today.

  2. Postpublished at 08:01 British Summer Time

    Alex Hartley
    Former England bowler on BBC Test Match Special

    A lovely shot from Noman Ali. It was slightly over-pitched from Brydon Carse.

    I don't hate the delivery, Carse is trying to bring the slips into play.

  3. Pak 357-8published at 116 overs

    Brydon Carse nearly gets the ball through Noman Ali's defences but the left-hander is saved by a thick inside edge onto his pad.

    He then counters with an excellent drive through mid-off for four to bring up the 350 for Pakistan.

    Four more! Short from Carse and Noman hammers the pull shot through mid-wicket.

    Time for one more over before lunch? Yes, just.

  4. Postpublished at 07:56 British Summer Time

    Ben Stokes has seen enough from his spinners. Brydon Carse is brought back on.

    He'll only get one over in before lunch but England need to break this partnership.

  5. Postpublished at 07:55 British Summer Time

    Alex Hartley
    Former England bowler on BBC Test Match Special

    BashirImage source, Reuters

    It feels like in the last 20 minutes there's been a boundary an over.

    Pakistan have been able to tick things along nicely.

  6. Pak 349-8published at 115 overs

    Lovely shot from Aamer Jamal, getting down to nail a reverse sweep for four.

    That's the good news for Pakistan, the bad news is that he is very clearly struggling with that hip.

    Five minutes until lunch and concern/ frustration for both sides.

  7. Postpublished at 07:52 British Summer Time

    Alex Hartley
    Former England bowler on BBC Test Match Special

    That's the first one we have seen from England. Matthew Potts has gone with one hand and misses it.

  8. Pak 345-8published at 114 overs

    Treatment received, Aamer Jamal is OK to carry on and pushes a single to start Jack Leach's over.

    A few balls later, Noman Ali nails a sweep shot but it should still only be a couple.

    However, Matthew Potts tries to pick it up one-handed, misses and the ball thuds into the boundary cushion.

  9. Postpublished at 07:50 British Summer Time

    Alex Hartley
    Former England bowler on BBC Test Match Special

    It will be interesting to see what happens if Aamer Jamal is injured.

  10. Postpublished at 07:47 British Summer Time

    Yep, as handy as this partnership has been, it might be time for Pakistan to get a little concerned.

    We've got a delay as Aamer Jamal, the only seamer in the side, receives treatment.

  11. Pak 340-8published at 113 overs

    JamalImage source, Reuters

    Good from Shoaib Bashir as he gets one to skid through and beat Aamer Jamal on the outside edge.

    More concerning for Pakistan is that Jamal has twice gone down to play a sweep and come up holding his hip.

    As the only seamer in the XI, the last thing they need is an injury to him.

    Four to end the over, off the toe end of the bat of Noman Ali and down to deep third as this ninth-wicket stand continues to frustrate England.

  12. How's stat?!published at 07:43 British Summer Time

    Srinivas Vijaykumar
    Cricviz analyst

    In the last five Tests in Pakistan, England's pace bowlers have taken 40 wickets at an average of 28.5.

    Since Test cricket returned to Pakistan in 2019, England pace attack's average is the best of all teams.

    England: 28.5

    Bangladesh: 32.9

    South Africa: 33.5

    Australia: 33.8

    Pakistan: 37.3

    Sri Lanka: 43.5

    New Zealand: 44.8

  13. Postpublished at 07:42 British Summer Time

    Alex Hartley
    Former England bowler on BBC Test Match Special

    Although it did turn and bounce it's not a threatening line from Jack Leach.

    He has bowled nicely again and he's definitely the most threatening of the two spin bowlers.

    England will be desperate to break this partnership.

  14. Pak 334-8published at 112 overs

    A little under 20 minutes until lunch and, finally, some spin!

    Super delivery from Jack Leach as the ball dips to pitch on off stump before turning sharply away from Aamer Jamal.

    That was off the straight as well so there is something there, albeit clearly not consistently.

  15. Pak 331-8published at 111 overs

    It's all a little bit flat in Multan at the moment. I know, I know, no surprise there. It has been for the past week etc, etc.

    Right now, it's not the pitch but something of a lull in the action with Pakistan content to just tick over and England's spinners struggling to create much in the way of chances.

  16. Postpublished at 07:36 British Summer Time

    Alex Hartley
    Former England bowler on BBC Test Match Special

    A little burst from Ben Stokes would be nice to see right now.

  17. Pak 329-8published at 110 overs

    JamalImage source, Getty Images

    There has been very little for spinners so far on day two, which must be a slight concern for a spin-loaded Pakistan team.

    It has also been cloudier than any other day in Multan so far so the pitch hasn't exactly been getting baked either.

    Although the sun does appear to have broken through now so that's something for the hosts...

  18. Postpublished at 07:31 British Summer Time

    Ramiz Raja
    Former Pakistan captain on Test Match Special

    Noman Ali is very good against spin and the pressure will be against Shoaib Bashir.

    Bashir has got to go a little flatter, I know he's tall, but flighting the ball is not going to rush Noman Ali.

  19. Pak 328-8published at 109 overs

    Shoaib Bashir comes on for the first time today and is immediately targeted by Pakistan.

    Noman Ali is onto the sweep quickly, his first effort half-stopped at mid-wicket to save two, but the next is clobbered to the fence.

    Bashir comes back well with four dot balls to ends the over.

  20. Postpublished at 07:29 British Summer Time

    Ramiz Raja
    Former Pakistan captain on Test Match Special

    The pitch doesn't have any pace.

    For for those close-in fielders it is going to be a tough gig when Pakistan come in and aggressively attack England with spin.