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England were defied by a century on debut by Pakistan’s Kamran Ghulam on the opening day of the second Test in Multan.<\/b><\/p>\n
Ghulam, in the side after the seismic axing of Babar Azam, made a splendid 118 to help the home side to 259-5.<\/p>\n
The 29-year-old’s effort allayed any suggestion batting would be impossible on a pitch that was also used for England’s innings victory on this ground last week.<\/p>\n
When spinner Jack Leach reduced Pakistan to 19-2 inside the opening 10 overs, there were fears the Test would become little more than a lottery, over in three days maximum.<\/p>\n
But Ghulam shared a third-wicket stand of 149 with Saim Ayub, who made 77, then carried on after he lost Ayub and Saud Shakeel in quick succession.<\/p>\n
Overall, England’s spinners struggled and the tourists’ threat came from their seamers, including captain Ben Stokes, playing his first Test since July. Stokes, Brydon Carse and Matthew Potts were magnificent in reverse-swinging the ball either side of tea.<\/p>\n
Ghulam was able to build another partnership of 65 with Mohammed Rizwan, the wicketkeeper crucially surviving an edge off Potts which England did not review.<\/p>\n
In the closing stages, Shoaib Bashir bounced back from a difficult day to bowl Ghulam, leaving the Test beautifully poised.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n