Pakistan beat England in the second test match by 178 runs to take a 1-0 lead in Dubai. It was an excellent performance by the Pakistan team who outplayed the England team in all departments and deserved a well-fought win. There were some good performances by the England team, but Pakistan team played well as a unit and everybody contributed to the success. Here we look at the 5 players which ensured a victory over England.
- Misbah UL Haq
Misbah UL Haq batting was superb in the whole match. In the first innings, the Pakistan team had lost 3 wickets in the first session at the score 85. Misbah UL Haq came to the rescue and put up a great partnership of 93 runs with Younis Khan. He put the pressure on the England spinners and never allowed them to settle to a line and length. After the loss of Younis Khan Wicket, he put another partnership of 104 runs. He completed the century in the last over of the day. On the second day, he was out for 102. In the second innings too he came after losing 3 wickets for 83 he played another captain’s knock and put up 141 fourth wicket partnership with Younis Khan. He scored 87 and got out on the fourth morning to ensure that Pakistan take a big lead over England. His captaincy was brilliant with his field placement and with his bowling changes.
- Younus Khan
Younus Khan the most experienced batsmen for Pakistan played a crucial knock in the 1st innings. He came to the crease when the score was 58 for 2. Younus Khan and Shan Masood put up 27 runs stand for the third wicket and then steadied the innings with 93 runs stand for the fourth wicket with captain Misbah UL Haq. Younus Khan was dismissed for well made 56. In the second innings, Pakistan were struggling at 16 for 2. Younis Khan played a great knock and created important partnerships with Hafeez, Misbah UL Haq. He attacked the spinners and played the pacers well also. He completed his century and also become the first Pakistani player to score 9,000 runs in test matches. He was out for 118 and ensured to give Pakistan a huge target to England.
- Wahab Riaz
Wahab Riaz bowled with great pace on a dead pitch with little help for the fast bowlers. He picked the early wicket of Moeen Ali. On the third day when England was at 182 for 3 he made the ball talk and picked crucial wickets of danger men Root for 88 to make an early breakthrough, then he picked the wicket of Stokes caught behind the wicket for 4, then Buttler for 0. He finished the innings with figures of 4 for 66 in 19 over’s and helped Pakistan to gain a 137 runs lead. In the second innings too Wahab Riaz again bowled with great speed and pace. He troubled every batsman of England team. When the partnership of Broad and Rashid was going for the 8 wickets he produced a brilliant Yorker to dismiss him for 30. He bowled 25 over’s in the second innings giving away 78 runs picking only 1 wicket.
- Yasir Shah
Yasir Shah was brilliant with the ball in the second test match for Pakistan. He bowled with great flight and variations. In the first innings when the partnership of Cook and Root was going on he came and picked the wicket of Cook for 65. On the third day he took the wicket of Adil Rashid for 0, then the set Bairstow for 46 and finally Wood to help Pakistan bowl out England for 242. He bowled 29 overs giving away 93 runs and picked up 4 crucial wickets. In the second innings too he put consistent pressure on the England batting line up. Right after lunch on the fourth day, he picked the wicket of Cook for 10. Today he picked the wickets of Bairstow, Jos Buttler and 6.3 over’s left in the day he picked the wicket of Adil Rashid to win the match for Pakistan. He bowled 41.3 over’s giving away 87 runs taking 4 wickets at an economy of 2.09.
- Imran Khan
Imran Khan the other fast bowler was impressive too with his line and lengths. In the first innings, he picked the early wicket of Ian Bell for 4. He bowled with good speed and did not allow the batsmen to score runs freely. At the end, he took the wicket of James Anderson to finish with figures of 2 for 33 in 13.2 over’s. In the second innings too he picked the early wicket of Moeen Ali for 1. He never the England batsmen to score runs and put pressure on the England batsmen. He was brought on by Misbah and took the wicket of Stokes for 13. He finished with figures of 2 for 41 in 14 over’s.