Kamran Ghulam hit an outstanding century on his debut to information Pakistan to 259-5 on the opening day of the second Take a look at towards England in Multan on Tuesday. The 29-year-old changed out-of-form Babar Azam at quantity 4 and foiled England’s aggressive bowling and fielding to attain 118. At shut of a good day’s play, Mohammad Rizwan and Salman Agha have been unbeaten with 37 and 5 respectively. The day ended Ghulam’s irritating lengthy look forward to a spot within the Pakistan group after he smashed a nationwide report 1,249 runs within the 2020 home season. Ghulam led a fightback after the hosts, who gained the toss, have been struggling at 19-2 with England spinner Jack Leach hanging twice within the first hour.

Ghulam added 149 for the defiant third wicket with Saim Ayub, who hit a career-best 77, and one other 65 for the fifth wicket with Rizwan.

He reached three figures with a boundary off spinner Joe Root, taking 280 minutes and turning into Pakistan’s twelfth batter to attain a century in his first Take a look at.

With simply half an hour earlier than stumps, Ghulam was bowled by spinner Shoaib Bashir, ending a resolute 323-minute knock spiced with 11 fours and a six.

Ghulam stated his century was a reward for his wait.

“It’s pleasant to attain 100 and that too as a substitute for Babar Azam, who has been an awesome participant for Pakistan,” stated Ghulam, who had a giant letoff on 79 when Ben Duckett didn’t get a troublesome probability off Leach.

“I noticed that with a bated breath however Almighty was so type on me,” stated Ghulam. 

“I simply took it as a standard first-class match and by no means took the strain of a foul begin to the group’s innings.”

Considered one of a dozen brothers, Ghulam stated his century will probably be celebrated amongst his huge household within the northwestern metropolis of Peshawar.

One brother was there in particular person.

“It’s a household event now with my youthful brother watching within the stadium, so I’m pleased with the feat,” he stated.

England too will probably be glad after an absorbing day’s play.

They employed a brief mid-off and two mid-wicket fielders to get wickets after lunch however the Multan pitch — the identical used for the primary Take a look at — gave little or no assist to the spinners after some early promise.

Skipper Ben Stokes, one in all two adjustments from England’s thumping innings win within the first Take a look at, bowled 5 overs and confirmed no indicators of the hamstring harm that pressured him to overlook the primary Take a look at.

Matthew Potts ended Ayub’s knock when the batsman patted to Stokes at quick mid-off whereas Brydon Carse eliminated Saud Shakeel for 4, the dismissals coming both aspect of the tea interval. 

Leach has figures of 2-92 whereas Bashir, Carse and Potts have a wicket every.

Abdullah Shafique was bowled by Leach for seven within the eighth over of the morning with the rating on 15.

In his subsequent over, the left-arm spinner had skipper Shan Masood caught low at quick midwicket by Zak Crawley for 3.

England lead the three-match sequence 1-0.

Pakistan’s heavy defeat final week — their sixth in as many Exams — prompted the selectors to make wholesale adjustments, with Azam, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah and Abrar Ahmed dropped.

Aside from Ghulam, Pakistan additionally introduced within the spin trio of Sajid Khan, Zahid Mahmood and Noman Ali, leaving them with just one quick bowler in Aamer Jamal.

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