So, was it just the pitch that proved decisive?

Not a chance, declares Ben Bernards:

English OBO readers coming across like the Indian spectators when watching an opponent play well. Silence, sourness, lack of respect for the opposition. Carve the game up to suit their own ends and when occasionally losing, out come the excuses. Classssssic

I don’t think any sober English fan would blame the pitch, but there’s no doubt it played a major role in this one.

Here’s Pakistan’s captain, Shan Masood who has his first win as skipper:

The first one is always special. it’s come after some hard times, some rough times. For the boys to step in, to work together, to come up with a strategy to pick up 20 wickets, that’s the most important thing.

You have to applaud the group. They’ve been hungry. [Not winning at home for 1,000 days] creates hunger. It’ll be special for everyone because it’s come after tough times. We’re just glad that we were able to put plans in place.

A strange of strategy for us. We tried going with green seamers against Bangladesh. You have to look at the opposition and what the ground offers you. We thought why not try to do something. Noman and Sajid coming in, it’s never easy. They seemed like two seasoned campaigners. But it’s a collective effort. Everyone has a part to play.

Reckon they’ll pick him for the next Test?

How good is Test cricket? And how good is a series going down the wire?

The teams playing a three-test series should be contractually bound to lose one each of the first two tests so that the third test is not a dead rubber. Well done England for doing so.

Seriously, that was a great test as it challenged the players’ techniques on both sides and in all departments of the game. Kudos to Pakistan for winning and now all eyes are on the Rawalpindi pitch.

Hear, hear Mike Daniels.

Saji Khan gets the player of the match award. Even though he ended with nine wickets, and Noman Ali bagged 11, that’s the right call.

His seven-for in the first dig certainly turned the match. Plus a handy 22 with the bat played a role in his team’s second innings.

This is not the first time two spinners have take all 20 wickets in a match!

Thanks to Chris for reminding me that Jim Laker (19) and Tony Lock (1) combined for all the Aussie scalps back in Manchester in 1956.

Zain Malik, erudite as always, leaves us with this:

It is remarkably rewarding to be a fan of the Men in Green. They represent an aura of their own, no matter then eleven they field on the day, the now almost cliched mercurial ways, the defying of all odds, triumphs from rock bottom. When the going gets tough and it has been tough in the recent public memory, it seemed like the good old days would never return. But here they are, the plan has worked. Bazball has been countered, the honour of Multan restored, the series levelled. No matter what you say about how this win was gathered, this was a win at all costs game. A game that has done well in giving Pakistan another chance to restore home dominance. To reclaim their place as a force to be reckoned with.

Well done, mate. Enjoy the win!

Here’s Ben Stokes:

It was obviously going to be a massive task for us because of how much was going on in the wicket. We knew that chasing the toal down, we knew we had to go out there with a method as individuals and as a batting unit. If you look at the guys who had success it was the ones who put pressure on the spinners with s weeps and reverse sweeps.

It was incredibly tough conditions to try and eke that out. There was always a ball with your name on it. It was about chasing the total down, not eking it out.

It was always going to be a big toss turning up on a day six pitch before a ball was bowled. But we felt we were still in the game. You have to give credit to Pakistan. They put a good score on the board. Ben Duckett’s hundred was incredible and then we lost some key wickets at the end of day two which is when I thought the pitch started doing a bit.

When you’re ahead of the game, like Pakistan were, you can start putting your foot down. So you’ve got to give them credit. A tough ask for us, but taking the game on as we did today was the only way we were going to do it.

It was always going to favour whoever won the toss. I always call tails and I won’t be saying anything different next week!

I thought we were always there. A lot going on. Spin, no spin, some bounce. I’m sure that’s better for spectators than just watching the ball go straight.

Did England lose because of the pitch? Because they were below par? Because Pakistan were excellent?

All three says Asad Ahmad. He’s not wrong:

The toss was undoubtedly a major factor in Pakistan’s win. But had England batted better in their 1 innings and taken their catches in Pakistan’s second they could have won the match. The win is down to a mixture of winning the toss, good cricket by pakistan and a subpar performance by england.

One for the statisticians:

“I wonder if Pakistan’s spin duo taking all of the wickets and bowling nearly 88 per cent of all the balls bowled by one side has happened before in a Test match?”

Great question Iain Chambers. Here’s the list of two bowlers taking all 20 wickets in a match.

This might be the first time this has been done by spinners.

Was the result made inevitable by the pitch?

Noman ends with 8-46. A sensational haul!

Peter Salmon writes in:

Hi Daniel

Had this Dylan lyric in my head all Test match about Noman Ali and it only gets more apt

Stay free from petty jealousies
Live by Noman’s code
And hold your judgment for yourself
Lest you wind up on this road

Pakistan will be delighted with that win but what does it mean for the series?

Matthew Hobbs raises an interesting point:

Good morning Dan

Just to add to Daniel’s point below, once the dust (ahem) settles, I wonder what this victory truly means for Pakistan beyond the sheer relief of getting over the line?

They’ve won in such unique circumstances - a week-and-a-half old pitch, a match-specific team packed with spinners - and yet the shoe could have so easily been on the other foot should the toss have gone against them.

If the teams arrive in Rawalpindi in six days’ time and the pitch doesn’t turn, or Pakistan lose an important toss, I’m not really sure how much confidence they would take winning in this manner.

This Test has been wonderful fun to watch but I suspect England will fancy their chances in the decider.

33rd over: England 144-8 (Potts 9, Leach 1) That’s a tremendous stroke from Potts who plays a reverse sweep as well as any top-order batter. Sajid hasn’t quite been at it today.

32nd over: England 138-8 (Potts 4, Leach 0) It’s a race to 10 wickets. Sajid and Noman both have nine with only two wickets left. Who will get there first?

Win the toss, win the match?

It’s an interesting question Daniel Forster:

Not wanting to deny this Pakistan credit for a determined and skilful performance against a backdrop of 6 defeats and administrative chaos, but I am I really the only person thinking that this the most extreme example I can recall of a match where winning the toss pretty much guarantees winning the game? The pitch behaved well for a day and a half, then rapidly became hard to play on then almost impossible to play on. Batting 2nd and 4th on this pitch and winning looks nigh on impossible...

Not the first time, Dan, but certainly a prime example of how difficult it is chasing in Asia on a turning track.

31st over: England 138-7 (Carse 27, Potts 4) Shows what I know. Potts nails a sweep that screams away for four. Or maybe I do know what I’m talking about as this was off Sajid – not Noman – who has struggled a bit from around the wicket today.

30th over: England 133-7 (Carse 26, Potts 0) Noman is the more threatening of the two bowlers. He’s been brilliant. And with two slips and a man at silly mid-off, he’s always in the game. Potts doesn’t look capable of getting him off the square and instead is happy to block with soft hands. An inside edge off the lasts over save him from an otherwise plumb lbw shout.

29th over: England 131-7 (Carse 24, Potts 0) Sajid has to wait for his 10th wicket as Carse survives a review for lbw. Earlier he mashed a mighty six over midwicket with a hefty hoik. He’ll continue to resist. But for how long?

Carse survives. Hit him outside the line and would have spun beyond leg stump. Pakistan lose the review.

Shan Masood reviews for an lbw shout against Carse. Could be close….

28th over: England 125-7 (Carse 18, Potts 0) That was a truly ignominious end for the England captain with his his bat spiralling away towards midwicket as he was stumped. Great bowling from Noman who slowed it right down through the air. Potts, the new man, had to contend with three slips lurking in wait. England are fighting with bravery, but the end is inevitable.

“Personally I fail to understand why Test cricket is doomed,” says an optimistic Jeremy Boyce.

“You can keep all your instant stuff, it’s like finding a bargain in the sales. Or eating cheap instant noodles You go for it, then later you realise it wasn’t what you really wanted so you flog it off to a bidder at a car boot sale/order a pizza. Strictly Come Cricket it is not. It is something to be appreciated over time, like a Twin Peaks/Downton Abbey boxed set, beautifully presented and with twists and turns (?!) at every moment. Maybe they should make David Lynch president of the ICC?”

27th over: England 121-6 (Stokes 33, Carse 18) A firm sweep from Stokes is dragged to the deep midwicket boundary. Carse gets his own broom out and dinks a couple to fine leg.

26th over: England 114-6 (Stokes 28, Carse 16) Stokes gets a single off his pads with a little flick and I think that’s his first run not scored with a sweep/reverse sweep. Earlier in the over he added two more to his tally with a reverse paddle and swipes at three more to no avail.

25th over: 111-6 (Stokes 25, Carse 16) Back-t0-back sixes from Carse who wallops Sajid down the ground! Why sweep when you can clear the rope over the bowler’s head? Wonderful batting. He then brings out the sweep and almost gets a boundary but smart fielding in the deep keeps it down to two.

As a South African, this is a message I can get behind:

“Down With The Self Appointed Big 3,” says Ben Bernards.

“England collapsing against the traditional laughing stock of Pakistan, India being brutalized on home soil by the sniffed-at minnows of NZ. This is the shot in the arm cricket needs, let the also-rans rise up against the devious breakaway thieves of the game. I say huzzah!”

Don’t forget South Africa’s women toppling Australia in the T20 World Cup!

24th over: England 96-6 (Stokes 24, Carse 2) This is great stuff! Stokes is counter-punching, absolutely smoking a reverse sweep in front of square for four. Another reverse gets him a single, though this one was a little awkward. To Carse Noman is mixing his pace and almost cleans him up with a loopy teaser that lands on a tricky full length and spins past the sticks.

23rd over: Eng;and 91-6 (Stokes 19, Carse 2) A review saves Carse who then gets off the mark with a punch for two. Stokes continues to paddle and gets a single. Sajid is varying his pace now, some fast, some slow. He’s got it on a string.

Carse survives! I was sure that would have gone on to hit the stumps but it turned a mile and would have missed leg! Sajid has to wait for his 10-for.

Carse is given out lbw on the sweep! Another hopeful review…

Zain Malik is thrilled with what he’s seeing:

The mighty Bazball of the entertainment industry, stumbling, tumbling, sweeping, and reverse-sweeping its way into absurdity on a crumbling wicket. Yet, you’ve got to hand it to them: the unshakable commitment to entertain, the relentless intent to win, to figure things out with flair. It took Pakistan a mid-series crisis task force, a pitch courtesy of malfunctioning rollers and industrial-strength fans, a cleansing of the eleven, and an all-or-nothing mentality to finally bring England to their knees on Day 9 in Multan. Good to see Pakistan clawing back to victory. It felt like this moment would never come.

Sure there’s the entertainment factor, but England’s approach makes a degree of sense. Sweeping is one way to combat the spin and when it works, like when Stokes nailed a sweep before the Smith wicket, it looks great.

But you’re right, there’s always a degree of risk.

Get a load of this stat!

21st over: England 83-5 (Stokes 17, Smith 2) Big turn as Sajid continues to slow it down through the air. He’s also tossing it up, inviting the English to make the play. Stokes gets a couple of singles with paddles and Smith sweeps more firmly for a single of his own.

20th over: England 80-5 (Stokes 15, Smith 1) Stokes has a smile on his face. We know he’s a man for a crisis but this is surely too much even for him. He continues reverse sweeping and gets a single from a full toss. Smith is off the mark first ball with a single from a cut shot. A penny for Brook’s thoughts. As Brian Withington says, he should have stuck with the sweeping plan.

Brook is pinned on the crease and he’s surely out! They review, but this looks plump to me.

19th over: England 77-4 (Brook 16, Stokes 13) Stokes is nailing the reverse sweep. Good fielding in the deep prevents the boundary and another sweetly struck reverse finds the man on the rope so they settle for two and one respectively. Brook swishes at a reverse but doesn’t nail it after Stokes shovels a couple to fine leg. I can’t recall Stokes scoring a run from a shot that wasn’t a sweep of some kind so far.

18th over: England 68-4 (Brook 16, Stokes 8) Stokes hammers Noman for four with a reverse sweep in front of square. That went to where extra cover would be. One turns sharply from back of a length outside off stump and whizzes past the leg stump and they pick up three extras. Brook then scythes a drag down off the back foot through cover to get three more before Stokes sweeps for a single. England are showing they’re not going to just sit there and take it.

17th over: England 61-4 (Brook 13, Stokes 3) It’s all sweeps. A few reverses, a few conventional ones, but it’s all brooms from the England batters. That forces Sajid to slow his pace down even more in an attempt to find a bit of grip and the top edge of the bat. Stokes collected two singles either side of the wicket while Brook managed a single himself and a couple off the last over that looped off the bat over two catchers behind square.

NO! Brook survives!

Not sure why they reviewed to be honest. That cleatrly bounced in front of the fielder. Sajid has to wait a little longer to bring out the trademark celebration.

Pakistan review for a catch at backward short leg! Did it carry?

Brian Withington is not feeling confident:

Good morning Daniel

Chasing 97 on this would be tricky; 197 bordering on improbable; 297 is frankly ludicrous. And as I write that Root gets given hip before wicket thanks to umpire’s call on line.

Enter Ben Stokes with minimal form but maximum ticker.

It would be the best run chase of this McCullum/Stokes era, no doubt.

16th over: England 56-4 (Brook 10, Stokes 1) The England captain gets off the mark with a reverse sweep from his first ball. Brook sees out the rest of the over without much fuss. But that’s all about the major scalp of Root. This will be a major test for the England batters from here.

Root has been given out lbw on the sweep! He reviews. Did it hit outside the line? That’s the only thing that can save him here.

15th over: England 53-3 (Root 16, Brook 10) Brook is not going to simply stand there and take it. He’s fighting back and unfurling a wonderfully belligerent reverse sweep that finds the backward point fence. A conventional sweep gets him a single after a a punch through mid-off brings him two. A leg-bye from a rather ugly hack from Root will keep him on strike.

14th over: England 45-3 (Pope 16, Brook 3) Brook is off the mark with a cute paddle for two down to fine leg. He then picks up a single to hog the strike. Noman is slowing it right down, allowing the ball to bite in the pitch. He’s perhaps bowling a touch too full though.

Russ Weedon has also contributed with a heroic intervention.

For all you overseas OBO followers:

https://www.youtube.com/live/vu72PJVMp3k?si=puwbtsADfCR0bqDE

13th over: England 41-3 (Root 15, Brook 0) Early success for Sajid who is a joy to watch. Root brings out the reverse sweeps. They look a little ungainly but he manages to get one away for two before working a single off the final ball off his legs. Pope will be spitting bile at the thought of his dismissal.

Zaph Mann is our hero, supplying the TMS overseas link.

Can someone confirm if this works:

https://www.youtube.com/live/vu72PJVMp3k

“Is it time for a reprise of the Stokes/Leach partnership?”

They’ll need something special from here, Matthew Doherty.

12th over: England 37-2 (Pope 22, Root 12) Noman is full from through and around the crease. Pope presses forward and sort of prods at it as he defends. One’s landed a little shorter which gives it the opportunity to spin past the outside edge and lift off the seam. The final ball is over pitched and Pope can squeeze it through the covers for a single.

Noman Ali to open the day.

Ian Ward wonders what the odds are on a Popr unfurling a sweep to the first ball.

The players are getting ready to take the field.

Mike Atherton reminds us that this is effectively a ninth day pitch. Remember this is the same strip they used for the first Test, which is bonkers when you think about.

Jeremy Boyce is our first correspondent of the morning:

“Not sure what all the anxiety about the England innings is all about ? According to the latest Quantum Cricket theories (B McCullum/B Stokes) they will either be all out for under 50 (copyright 2024 India) or have this lot biffed off in time for a big lunch.”

Boom or bust. It’s a helluva way to play!

Anyone got the overseas link for TMS?

You’d be helping out a whole lotta folks if you do.

As any journo will tell you, it’s normally not a good sign when the team sends out a coach to handle the post-play media duties.

Is this a sign that England are rattled? Not sure. Either way, it was their assistant coach, Paul Collingwood, who fronted up last night and emphasised the “belief” in the camp that they can haul down this mighty target.

Some reading for all you early risers:

South Africa knock out Australia in the T20 World Cup – one of the great upsets of our time:

India are bundled our for 46 against New Zealand. The Black Caps are currently building a first innings lead past 150 in Bengaluru:

The ECB bans transgender women from competing in domestic cricket: