Sajid Khan and Noman Ali created history as they broke a 52-year-old record by claiming all 20 wickets in the second Test against England on October 18, Friday. Sajid and Noman’s brilliance would help Pakistan finally end their winless streak at home as they won the match in Multan by 152 runs.
Both men had come into the game as Pakistan went for wholesale changes to their side and made it a spin-heavy one with Aamer Jamal being the only pacer. It was Sajid who had wreaked havoc in the first innings for Pakistan as he picked up a total of 7 wickets while the rest went to Noman.
On Day 4, the roles were completely reversed as it was the Noman show in Multan. However, Sajid provided the key breakthrough as he dismissed the dangerous Ollie Pope in the second over of the day. Following that, Noman would run through the entire lineup and pick up 8 wickets for 46 to script a memorable win for Pakistan in Multan and level the series at 1-1. This was the best figures by a Pakistan left-arm spinner in Tests.
With this, Noman and Sajid became the 7th pair to bag all 20 wickets in a Test match. The last pair to do so was Bob Massie and Denis Lillee against England at Lord’s in 1972. Massie picked up 16 wickets in that match while Lillee got 4.
In Multan, Noman picked up 11 wickets while Sajid got 9.
Two bowlers taking all 20 wickets in a Test match
M Noble (13) & H Trumble (7) vs ENG, Melbourne, 1902
C Blythe (11) & G Hurst (9) vs AUS, Birmingham, 1909
B Vogler (12) & A Faulkner (8) vs ENG, Jo’burg, 1910
J Laker (19) & T Lock (1) vs AUS, Manchester, 1956
F Mahmood (13) & Khan Mohammad (7) vs AUS, Karachi, 1956
B Massie (16) & Denis Lillee (4) vs ENG, Lord’s, 1972
Sajid Khan (9) & Noman Ali (11) vs ENG, Multan, 2024
Noman’s match figures of 11 for 147 were the third-best by a Pakistan bowler in Tests against England.
(Courtesy India Today)