Today’s play has been captivating. Despite pre-match concerns, the pitch has held up well, providing a balanced contest between bat and ball.
England performed admirably, but Kamran Ghulam’s century has given Pakistan the edge.
You can find a detailed match report below, along with top reactions from the day’s play.
Matthew Potts on England’s Performance
England bowler Matthew Potts spoke with TMS, expressing satisfaction with the team’s efforts:
“We created plenty of chances throughout the day, and the team stayed focused. We’re pleased with where things stand.”
Commenting on the pitch, Potts added:
“It’s flatter than expected, but the game is still in the balance. A couple of early wickets tomorrow could shift the momentum.”
On his strategy to dismiss Saud Shakeel, Potts explained:
“We decided to go around the wicket with a 7-2 field on the offside, and luckily it worked.”
Ramiz Raja on Kamran Ghulam’s Impressive Century
Former Pakistan captain Ramiz Raja praised Kamran Ghulam:
“Ghulam showed immense focus and footwork against spin. Though he needs to improve against pace, his overall performance was exceptional.”
Stats and Analysis from CricViz
CricViz analyst Srinivas Vijaykumar highlighted the difficulty of batting today compared to the first Test:
“The PitchViz rating today was 5.2, significantly tougher than the 3.0 in the previous Test.”
Spin and reverse swing also played a bigger role:
“The spinners averaged a turn of 3.79°, while pacers found more reverse swing today with an average of 0.86°.”
Saim Ayub on His Crucial 77
Pakistan opener Saim Ayub reflected on his innings:
“The pitch was slow, turning, and unpredictable. Every run was valuable in these conditions. Disappointed to miss out on a century, but my focus was on setting a strong foundation.”
Kamran Ghulam’s Test Debut Century
Kamran Ghulam, who was playing in the Huddersfield Premier League earlier this year, made a stunning Test debut, scoring 118 from 224 deliveries.
Brydon Carse’s Strong Bowling Performance
Brydon Carse impressed with figures of 1-14 from 11 overs. His accuracy and reverse swing troubled Pakistan’s batters, with 37% of his deliveries in the good line and length zone.
Close of Play
Pakistan ended Day 1 at 259-5 after 90 overs, with Muhammad Rizwan unbeaten on 37 and Salman Ali Agha on 5. England will look to strike early on Day 2 to shift the balance back in their favor.
