Noman Ali and Salman Ali Agha engaged in a lighthearted exchange on Day 3 of the recently concluded second Test between Pakistan and England at the Multan International Cricket Stadium in Multan. Their delightful teasing brought smiles amidst the tension of the game.
With Pakistan reeling at seven wickets down in their second innings against England, the atmosphere was charged, but Noman Ali and Salman Ali Agha managed to inject some much-needed humor into the proceedings at the Multan International Cricket Stadium.
Noman Ali and Salman Ali Agha share a laugh over a flick shot in Multan
Actually, Noman Ali executed a flick shot against England captain and star all-rounder Ben Stokes, and it quickly became a topic of playful banter between him and Salman Ali Agha on Day 3 of the second Test match in Multan. The ball, well outside leg stump, was well flicked to fine-leg for a single, but it was the aftermath that captured everyone’s attention.
The Ben Stokes delivery was well wide of the leg stump, and Noman Ali showcased his skills to turn the heads as the Pakistan spinner perfectly flicked the ball to the fine leg for a single. A few moments after Salman Ali Agha, who was batting steadily at 25, couldn’t resist teasing his batting partner.
Pura tere bhai ne Lara ki tarah maara hai: Noman to Salman Ali Agha
Amusing by the flick’s execution, Agha repeatedly asked Noman Ali whether the shot had been intentional, and it led the spinner to compare his shot-making to the legendary West Indies batter Brian Lara. Agha asked, “Khud maari hai na yeh? (Did you hit it deliberately?)”
In a moment of pride and humor, Noman confidently said that his shot was just a copy of the legendary Brian Lara. He noted, “Han! Han! Pura tere bhai ne Lara ki tarah maara hai. (Yes! Yes! I just flicked it like Lara,” sparking laughter from Agha and the players on the field.
Meanwhile, Noman had a memorable day with the ball, as the Pakistan spinner finished with the record figures of 8/46 in the second innings to help his team beat England by 152 runs to level the ongoing three-match Test series, which is part of the ICC World Test Championship.
Noman Ali achieves multiple milestones in the Multan Test
Noman Ali had also snared three wickets in the first innings in the second Test in Multan. His figures of 11/147 were the third-best for Pakistan in a Test match against England. Additionally, Noman’s 8/46 is also the second-best innings figure for the Pakistan versus England Test.
Noman’s stunning figures of 8/46 are also the best figures at Multan in a Test innings, as well as the third-best figures for a Pakistan spinner in the traditional format of the game. Apart from Ali, Sajid Khan also claimed 8 wickets, and it was for the first time since 1987 when two Pakistani spinners claimed five-wicket hauls in the same match.
It was the seventh instance when Pakistanis achieved this feat. Notably, the Test series decider will be played between Pakistan and England at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium in Rawalpindi from October 24.
