Pakistan batters Saud Shakeel and Imam-ul-Haq have provided stability to their innings after the fall of three top-order wickets in the recently concluded second session of the ongoing second Test match against England in Multan.
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The two left-handed batters returned unbeaten to the dressing room at tea to not let the home team lose another wicket in the afternoon session.
Having managed to survive most part of the morning session without losing a wicket, Pakistan lost vice-captain Mohammad Rizwan (30), captain Babar Azam (1) and opening batter Abdullah Shafique (45) to neutralize all the progress made via a 66-run opening stand between Rizwan and Shafique.
With seven sessions remaining in the match, Pakistan have enough time to score the remainder of 219 runs and draw level the three-match series on the back of registering a historic victory. England, who had defended 343 runs in the first Test in Rawalpindi, would be confident of defending 355 runs in this match.
Assuming that Pakistan manage to seal this run-chase on Day 4, it will be their highest successful Test run-chase. Potentially a 13th highest successful run-chase in the history of Test matches, it will also be the highest Test run-chase in Pakistan, highest at the Multan Cricket Stadium and the fourth-highest against England.
Highest run chase in Test cricket Multan
Hosting a Test match only for the sixth time, there has been a solitary instance of a team managing to successfully seal a run-chase in Multan Tests.
It was almost a couple of decades ago when Pakistan had chased down a 261-run target against Bangladesh at this venue. The match is fondly remembered for former Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq scoring a match-winning 138* (232) to ensure a nail-biting 1-wicket victory at his home ground.
In what will only be the second successful Test run-chase here, it will become the highest for this venue if Pakistan manage to do the unthinkable tomorrow.
