Pakistan started the day at 328-4, with Saud Shakeel on 35 and nightwatchman Naseem Shah yet to score. England’s seamers were tasked with taking early wickets to prevent Pakistan from posting a mammoth score. The pitch in Multan was expected to produce runs in the first three days of the match.
Saud Shakeel played confidently, reaching a composed fifty from 96 balls. Naseem Shah, known for his strokeplay, struggled early on but eventually got off the mark with a boundary. With the second new ball five overs old, England aimed to strike early and restrict Pakistan.
Both teams had their key players missing, with England missing the likes of Mark Wood and Jofra Archer, and Pakistan facing questions about Shan Masood’s place in the team. Despite some slow scoring early on, Pakistan looked set to post a big total, with the potential for England to keep them under 450 runs on a pitch that favored the batsmen.
The first hour of play was crucial for both teams, with Pakistan looking to dominate and England aiming to claw back to control the game. The match promised a day of hard work for England’s seam attack, with the possibility of changes to the team and strategy as the day progressed. Both teams were eager for a strong performance on the second day of the Test match in Multan.
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