ENGLAND conjured up another thrilling and historic victory in Pakistan with Mark Wood taking the vital wickets.
Wood’s pace turned the match on its head on day four and Ben Stokes and his players won the Second Test in Multan by 26 runs.
Mark Wood and Ben Stokes celebrate another Test win in Pakistan
Wood ended with figures of 4-65 in the second innings
It secured an unbeatable 2-0 lead in their first Test series in Pakistan for 17 years.
Before this trip, England had won only two Tests in Pakistan. Now they have won two in a week.
Fortunes fluctuated on the fourth day but Wood’s two strikes before lunch – when he had both Mohammad Nawaz and Saud Shakeel caught down the legside – were the decisive moments.
Shakeel’s dismissal caused plenty of debate but third umpire Joel Wilson upheld standing official Aleem Dar’s belief that wicketkeeper Ollie Pope had taken the catch cleanly.
Wood then bowled Zahid Mahmood after Jimmy Anderson had Abrar Ahmed, who came out swinging and slapped four fours in the two overs after lunch, caught in the covers for 17 from 12 deliveries.
Ollie Robinson took the final wicket with the first ball of a new spell when No11 Mohammad Ali was caught behind. The decision was referred but England knew they had their man – and the victory.
Pakistan lost their last five wickets for 38 runs.
Although Pakistan is traditionally a venue for spin bowlers, it was England’s seamers that made the difference.
Ben Stokes has now won eight Test matches out of nine since succeeding Joe Root as captain and linking up with coach Brendon McCullum.
The ‘Bazball’ juggernaut remains unstoppable at the moment.
Once again, Stokes appeared totally calm amid the tension of the tight finish and his bowling changes and field placings were again spot on.
Wood said: “I’m shattered, we had to dig deep and it was very hard fought. But it was worth it. The lads have put in so much over these two games.
“Stokesy told me to make a difference and change the game with that spell. That’s what I tried to do.
“Those two wickets were key. We knew with their tail that we could get late wickets.
“Stokesy knows exactly what he wants from all of us. I’d run through a brick wall for him.”
Pakistan began the fourth day needing another 157 runs to level the series with six wickets intact.
And they lost left-hander Faheem Ashraf in the sixth over when he edged Root to Zak Crawley at slip.
Root became only the third man after Jacques Kallis and Steve Waugh to score 10,000 runs and 50 wickets in Test cricket, although it should be said Kallis has 292 wickets!
Mohammad Nawaz then helped Saud Shakeel put on 80 for the sixth wicket with ever-increasing confidence. England were in desperate need of a wicket.
Wood was brought into the attack to try to shake up the batsmen with short bowling and he soon struck twice with his pair of snares down the legside.
Nawaz gloved a catch, comfortably held by Pope, and then Shakeel was given out for a fine 94 in Wood’s next over as Pope dived to his right.
Pakistan were 291-7 and still needing another 64 runs and, although the lower-order hacked a few boundaries, England were always likely to win after that.
Zahid Mahmood had his off stump flying thanks to Wood’s pace
Ollie Robinson took the final wicket of the match
England have an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series
Harry Brook was named player of the match after his crucial 108
