PAK vs ENG: Abrar Ahmed takes 7-114 in debut innings, England 281/10

Abrar Ahmed provided the mystery and the mastery that Pakistan’s attack had so lacked in Rawalpindi last week. To rush to stunning debut figures of 7 for 114 in 22 overs in a sensational fast-forwarded second Test in Multan. By tea, Abrar had become the third Pakistan cricketer to take seven wickets in his debut Test innings, and was on course to claim all ten. Fellow legspinner Zahid Mahmood got in on the act with the final three wickets of the innings. Including two in two to pick off wickets eight and nine.

Nevertheless, with Bob Massie and Narendra Hirwani’s historic debuts still out there as inspiration, the prospect of further records in the second innings for Abrar seem very much on the cards. England’s Bazballing batters certainly won’t be clamming up against his threat in a hurry. Despite a significantly more adverse scenario than they had faced on the flattest of decks in the first Tes. Stokes’ men still hurtled along with their new fearless approach. Racking up their 281 runs at a rate of 5.43 across 51.4 overs. En route, they even set a new Test record in an extended two-and-a-half-hour morning session, reaching lunch on 180 for 5 from 32 overs.

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Abrar becomes 3rd Pakistani cricketer to take 7 wickets on debut

The most runs ever made in the first session of a match, and eclipsing the 174 for 0 they had put up at the same stage in Rawalpindi. It all made for a fascinating battle of punch and counter-punch. In conditions that could not have been further removed from the bat-dominant first Test. When Mark Wood’s long handle picked off eight fours in an unbeaten 36 from 27 balls in a priceless last-wicket stand with James Anderson. England might even have felt they were above par for the conditions.

But with Abrar in Pakistan’s ranks, they have a weapon that England will struggle to match. England are no longer a team prepared to wait for the ball with their name on it in such conditions. Not even the loss of Zak Crawley to a sublime googly in Abrar’s first over could persuade them to temper their aggression for long. Having stood tall to the seamers to punch three trademark fours through the covers. Crawley was bowled clean through the gate for 19 from 37 balls as Abrar. With little discernible change of action, flicked out a fifth-ball wrong’un to take out the top of off stump.