Kamran Ghulam hits ton on debut as Pakistan escape England’s spin web in Multan

Kamran Ghulam marked his Test debut in spectacular fashion, scoring a century to anchor Pakistan to 259-5 on the opening day of the second Test against England in Multan on Tuesday.

Ghulam, stepping in for the out-of-form former captain Babar Azam, showcased his talent and composure, completing his century off 192 balls, which included nine boundaries and a six.

Ghulam's century not only signified a personal achievement but also placed him among an exclusive group of Pakistani cricketers. He became the 13th player from Pakistan to score a century on Test debut, joining the ranks of legends like Javed Miandad and Younis Khan.

Early setbacks for Pakistan

However, the day did not begin smoothly for Pakistan. Opting to bat first, the team aimed to amass as many runs as possible before the pitch began to deteriorate. The second Test was being played on the same wicket as the first, which was anticipated to crack and turn as the match progressed.

Pakistan fielded three specialist spinners, intending to exploit these conditions, but England’s bowlers initially demonstrated that the pitch could offer significant assistance to spin right from the start.

Matthew Potts and Brydon Carse opened the bowling, delivering five disciplined overs with the new ball. One delivery from Potts notably kept low, eliciting a grin from the bowler and prompting England captain Ben Stokes to remark on the stump microphone, "it's started already, boys."

After just five overs, Stokes introduced his spinners, and Jack Leach made an immediate impact. He dismissed Abdullah Shafique for just seven runs in the eighth over, bowled out as the score stood at 15.

Leach's next over saw Pakistan captain Shan Masood caught for three runs at short midwicket by Zak Crawley, leaving the hosts reeling at 19-2.

Crucial partnership

Saim Ayub and Kamran Ghulam formed a 149-run partnership on the opening day of the second Test in Multan.PCB

With pressure mounting, debutant Kamran Ghulam had big shoes to fill, having replaced Babar, who had not crossed fifty in his last 18 Test innings. Ghulam, however, thrived under the pressure, forging a crucial partnership with Saim Ayub.

The early breakthroughs by Leach put Pakistan on the back foot, but as Saim Ayub and Ghulam settled in, the pitch appeared to ease. They formed a substantial partnership, stabilizing the innings with a 149-run stand for the third wicket. The duo displayed a measured approach, punctuated by some extravagant strokes, and took Pakistan to a much-needed position of relative safety.

In an effort to break the partnership, Stokes brought himself into the attack. Despite his swinging deliveries and awkward bounce proving challenging, the wicket eluded him. The low bounce of the pitch and Stokes's pace led to a unique fielding arrangement, with first slip Joe Root standing unusually close to the wicketkeeper, wearing a helmet.

The partnership came to an end when fast bowler Matthew Potts claimed Saim Ayub’s wicket after the opener scored a commendable 77 runs, adorned with seven boundaries. Ayub was caught by Stokes at short mid-off while attempting to push a delivery from Potts just before tea, leaving Pakistan at 173 for three at the break.

After the interval, England struck again quickly, with Brydon Carse dismissing Saud Shakeel for just four runs, caught behind. Despite this setback, Ghulam continued to score steadily, finding an able partner in wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan. The pair added 65 runs to the total, demonstrating a sense of resilience and purpose.

Pakistan's Mohammad Rizwan in action during the opening day of the second Test against England in Multan.PCB

Ghulam reached his century with a well-timed boundary off Joe Root in the 74th over. His celebration was a testament to the significance of the achievement, as he raised his fist in joy, reveling in the milestone. However, his innings came to an abrupt end shortly thereafter; in an attempt to come down the pitch to Shoaib Bashir, he was bowled for 118.

Despite the loss of Ghulam, Rizwan remained unbeaten at 37 runs, while in-form Salman Ali Agha was not out at five runs. By the close of play, Pakistan had established a solid foundation at 259 for five, with Rizwan looking to build on the day two.