After skipper Shan Masood and Abdullah Shafique shone with respective centuries on Day 1, all-rounder Salman Ali Agha turned out to be a third centurion for on Day 2 in the first innings of the ongoing first Test against England at Multan Cricket Stadium. Resuming the play on 328/4 on Day 2, Pakistan went on to add 228 runs more as the hosts were bowled out for 556 in their first innings. Along with Salman Ali Agha, Saud Shakeel also shone with a knock of 82(177) runs.
Coming to bat on Day 2, Pakistan went on to lose quick wickets as Naseem Shah (33 off 81) departed at the score of 388 runs in 105.4 overs. After a few overs, Mohammad Rizwan registered a 12-ball duck as Pakistan lost six wickets at the score of 393 runs. After that, Saud Shakeel and Salman Ali Agha took the charge of the innings and put up a partnership of 57 runs for the seventh wicket. Shakeel got out after scoring 82 runs off 177 balls hitting eight boundaries.
Salman Ali Agha remains unbeaten as Pakistan post 556 in first innings
After the fall of Saud Shakeel’s wicket, Salman Ali Agha took charge of Pakistan’s innings and wickets kept falling from the other end. He also got support from Shaheen Afridi (26 off 49), as the duo added 85 runs for the ninth wicket taking Pakistan past 500 runs. Salman finally completed his third Test hundred in 108 balls. The right-hander remained unbeaten on 104 runs off 119 with the help of 10 fours and three sixes, as Pakistan posted 556 in the first innings.
For England, Jack Leach took a 3-wicket haul while Gus Atkinson and Brydon Carse bagged 2 wickets each. Chris Woakes, Shoaib Bashir and Joe Root also put 1 wicket each in their bag. Coming to bat, England didn’t get a great start as they lost their first wicket in the form of skipper Ollie Pope, who went back for a two-ball duck at the score of 4 runs in 1.2 overs. However, Zak Crawley and Joe Root are still at the crease taking the innings forward.
