Pakistan vice-captain Mohammad Rizwan is confident of his team pulling off a terrific run-chase on the fourth day of the second Test match against England at the Multan Cricket Stadium tomorrow.
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Chasing a 355-run target, Pakistan need 157 more runs with six wickets in hand to win this match and stage a come back in the ongoing three-match series. With a couple of days remaining in the match, there is no way that it will result in a draw.
With Pakistan ending Day 3 at 198/4 in 64 overs, Rizwan considers the same as a “good position” on a “slow” and “turning” pitch and sees them as the favourites in spite of needing to dominate a couple of sessions on Day 4 against an “experienced” English side.
Mohammad Rizwan in awe of James Anderson post getting out to him in Multan Test
In what was his 41st Test innings, Rizwan was sent out to open the batting for the first time after regular opener Imam-ul-Haq struggled with a hamstring issue. A 66-run opening stand alongside Abdullah Shafique (45) saw Rizwan batting with positive intent but the right-handed batter couldn’t convert his start into a half-century.
Rizwan, who scored 30 (43) at a strike rate of 69.76, Rizwan was undone by a jaffa by veteran England pacer James Anderson. Becoming the first Pakistani batter to get out right after the lunch break, Rizwan was soon followed to the pavilion by captain Babar Azam (1) and Shafique.
“Always a masterclass, I love him [James Anderson] because of his bowling. I have no answers to his questions,” Rizwan admitted to be in awe of the 40-year old player. Rizwan, who appeared to have no clue about the ball on which he was dismissed, was not only short of answers but also short of words to appreciate Anderson’s quality.
Facing Anderson for the seventh time in Test cricket, Rizwan has scored 43 (104) with the help of five fours at the cost of getting out thrice against him.
