2nd Test: Spinners lead Pakistan to their first home victory since 2021 with a commanding 152-run win against England.

Multan [Pakistan], October 18: Pakistan ended its 11-match winless streak in Test cricket on home soil with a decisive 152-run victory in Multan, leveling the series at 1-1 against England on Friday.

After years of disappointment, Pakistan celebrated its first Test victory at home since February 2021. The decision to field a spin-heavy lineup proved successful as Shan Masood's six-match losing streak as Pakistan's Test captain came to an end.

In the second Test, spinners Noman Ali and Sajid Khan took all 20 wickets, demonstrating Pakistan's dominance in Multan after suffering a humiliating defeat at the same venue in the opening Test.

Day 4 started with England needing 261 runs with eight wickets remaining. England's innings got off to a rough start when Sajid Khan dismissed Ollie Pope in the second over of the day.

As on Day 3, England attempted various sweep shots to counter the spin threat. However, Pakistan's spinners consistently delivered full-length balls, making it challenging for England to execute their sweep shots effectively.

This high-risk strategy of sweeping carried both risks and potential rewards. Joe Root attempted a sweep but was trapped in front of the stumps, while Harry Brook and Ben Stokes tried to revive England's hopes of victory.

With Brook adopting an aggressive approach, Noman bowled around the wicket, trapping the young batter in front of the stumps, which left England at 78/5.

Stokes was the top scorer for England with 37 runs, utilizing a variety of sweep shots. However, this was not enough for the visitors to secure the Test series before moving to Rawalpindi.

Stokes's innings ended when he charged down the pitch against Noman. The ball spun through the gap between his bat and pad, leading to Mohammed Rizwan making a clean collection behind the stumps to dislodge the bails.

Noman wrapped up England's tail to secure an emphatic 152-run victory.

Earlier in the Test, Pakistan won the toss and chose to bat. Debutant Kamran Ghulam scored a century, helping Pakistan reach 366.

In response, England managed only 291, despite Ben Duckett's aggressive century. Pakistan maintained composure, adding 221 runs with significant contributions from the lower order. Chasing a target of 297, England fell short on a spin-friendly pitch.