NEW DELHI: Debutant Kamran Ghulam scored a brilliant 118 runs to help Pakistan reach 259 for five on the opening day of the second Test against England in Multan on Tuesday.
The 29-year-old’s innings, which included 11 fours and a six, was crucial in stabilizing Pakistan’s innings after they found themselves in trouble at 19-2.
Kamran shared a 149-run partnership with opener Saim Ayub, who scored 77 runs, and later added 65 runs with Mohammad Rizwan, who remained unbeaten on 37 at stumps, with Salman Agha on five at the other end.
Pakistan captain Shan Masood’s decision to bat first backfired as England captain Ben Stokes introduced spin from both ends after just five overs of seam bowling.
Jack Leach dismissed both Abdullah Shafique (7) and Shan Masood (3) in quick succession, leaving Pakistan in a precarious position.
Kamran, however, showed no signs of nervousness, hitting Leach for ‘a big six’ over his head. He and Saim continued to build the innings after lunch, with Kamran reaching his maiden Test fifty. Saim eventually fell to Matthew Potts, caught by Stokes at short mid-off.
Kamran survived a dropped catch by Ben Duckett on 79 and went on to reach his century with a boundary off Joe Root. His impressive knock finally came to an end when off-spinner Shoaib Bashir deceived him with turn and knocked back his leg stump.
England welcomed the return of Ben Stokes, who had missed the first Test due to a hamstring injury.
Pakistan, on the other hand, made significant changes to their team, dropping captain Babar Azam and pacers Shaheen Afridi and Naseem Shah following their heavy defeat in the series opener.