MULTAN, Pakistan — On the second day of the second cricket test against England, Pakistan’s tailenders put up a strong resistance, taking the score to 358-8 by the lunch break on Wednesday. This determined performance highlighted their ability to counter England’s bowling attack of pace and spin on a dry pitch that had previously seen Pakistan lose the first test by an innings and 47 runs.

All-rounder Aamer Jamal led the way with a resilient unbeaten score of 37, supported notably by No. 10 batsman Noman Ali, who confidently scored 29. Ali showcased his batting prowess against the spinners, striking Jack Leach for a couple of boundaries, while also finding success against fast bowler Brydon Carse with two more fours right before the lunch break.

The morning session saw the dismissals of overnight batsmen Mohammad Rizwan (41) and Salman Ali Agha (31). However, Jamal and Ali managed to frustrate the English bowlers, contributing 49 runs together during the latter part of the session. Rizwan’s innings came to an end early in the day as he fell victim to a brilliant diving catch made by Jamie Smith off Carse’s bowling, who was instrumental in keeping the pressure on.

The partnership between Jamal and Ali was vital, allowing Pakistan to add 99 runs to their overnight total of 259-5. The previous day had been marked by the standout performance of debutant Kamran Ghulam, who had scored a commendable century. The Pakistani team has been eager for a home win, having not achieved one in 12 matches, and they have opted for a lineup featuring three specialist spinners with Jamal as the sole fast bowler.

Kamran Ghulam’s impressive form in domestic cricket over the past four years earned him a chance in the national squad, especially after key player Babar Azam was rested for the remaining tests in the series against England.