Pakistan stretches lead to 118 runs after Sajid Khan takes 7-111 against England in 2nd test

MULTAN, Pakistan — Sajid Khan took seven wickets on a reused wicket tailor-made for spinners and earned Pakistan the lead against England in the second cricket test on Thursday.

Off-spinner Khan inspired Pakistan to 75-run first-innings lead with impressive figures of 7-111 as England got bowled out for 291 inside the first hour on Day 3.

Pakistan, trailing 1-0 in the series after a massive innings and 47-run loss in the first test, reached 43-3 at lunch for an overall lead of 118 runs as the dry wicket continues to suit the spinners.

England’s off-spinner Shoaib Bashir claimed the wickets of Abdullah Shafique (4) and skipper Shan Masood (4) before finding the edge of Saim Ayub (22) of the last ball before the break to give Ollie Pope his second catch at second slip.

Debutant Kamran Ghulam, who made a dream century in Pakistan's first-innings score of 366, was unbeaten on 5 off 14 balls as England deployed an all-out spin attack with the new ball.

Khan wrapped up England’s first innings inside the first hour after the tourists resumed on 239-6. Brydon Carse holed out in the deep in an attempt to hit Khan for a big shot on the leg side before left-arm spinner Noman Ali (3-101) picked up his 50th test wicket when Jamie Smith (21) couldn’t clear the fielder at long-off.

Khan then clean bowled Matthew Potts, who walked across his stumps but the ball zipped through between the batter’s legs and knocked back the stumps.

Jack Leach hit run-a-ball 25 and added 29 runs for the 10th-wicket stand with Bashir before Khan folded the innings when Bashir’s extravagant swipe against the off-spinner hit the toe-end of his bat and flew to short mid-wicket.