MULTAN, OCT 25 (DNA):Pakistan’s Shan Masood Friday was dismissed after scoring 26 runs as the hosts lost their fourth wicket at 99 runs against England on the second day of the third Test match.
The series-deciding game between the two teams is being held at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.
Both Masood and Saud Shakeel resumed Pakistan’s innings on the second day of the third and final Test with the hosts earlier standing on 73-2 in response to the tourists’ 267 all out.
After bowling out England for 267 in their first innings on Thursday, Pakistan faced trouble due to its slumping top order, as they lost three early wickets on the first day.
England’s Shoaib Bashir sent off Abdullah Shafique (14) in the ninth over, whereas, Jack Leach ended Saim Ayub’s innings at 19 in the twelfth over. Gus Atkinson gave a big blow to the hosts by claiming Kamran Ghulam’s wicket for 3.
However, the Pakistani skipper and Shakeel scored 16 runs, helping the team’s slumping lineup stay steady at the conclusion of day one of the series decider at 73/3.
The three-test series is level at 1-1.
Earlier, Jamie Smith (89) and Ben Duckett (52) scored fifties but England’s most frontline batters overall struggled against the turning ball.
Pakistan’s spin duo of Sajid Khan and Noman Ali ran through the England lineup as they claimed six and three wickets, respectively, followed by Zahid Mahmood took one wicket.
After departure of skipper Ben Stokes (12), Jamie Smith revived his side by scoring crucial 89 runs off 119 balls along with Atkinson’s 39 off 71. Zahid removed Smith in 62nd over, whereas, Atkinson was caught and bowled by Noman.