Given how shameful disastrous batting collapses are, to be the highlight scalp of one is indeed an honour no player wishes is ever bestowed upon him. Yet, that hand was dealt to Ben Stokes on Thursday as he tried to smash the ball into oblivion only to be humiliated in comic book fashion in Multan.
England crumbled like a house of cards as soon as the Multan pitch began to show any signs of sharp turn in the second Test match against Pakistan and ended up falling comprehensively short of the 297-run target on Day 4. The last four wickets came for only 19 runs and included the price scalp of skipper Ben Stokes after a brief rampage that ended in misery.
Having struck four boundaries in his quicker than run-a-ball knock of 37, Stokes was up against the 38-year-old Noman Ali and reverse swept the first ball of the over for a comprehhensive boundary. The left-arm spinner responded by dragging the ball halfway down the track, angling it away from Stokes. The southpaw completely failed to read the length of the ball and came charging down like a raging bull before swinging his arms with all his might. However, he was nowhere near the pitch of the ball as it spun back sharply to beat his inside edge and end up in Mohammad Rizwan’s gloves for a comfortable stumping. But that was not the highlight of it all. During the wild heave, Stokes had ended up losing grip of his willow and it flew in the air, missing short leg by a whisker, before landing near fine leg.
The Pakistan players could not help but let out a few snickers while Noman exalted in jubilation and Twitterati was no different.
This is funny!
Threw it
Pop & Ben Stokes both threw their wickets away. Thanks to Noman for 5-fer 🇵🇰🏏🏴
— Aatif – An Astrologer 🎭🏹 (@AatifAstro) October 18, 2024
Noman Ali has Ben Stokes stumped to complete his fifth Test five-for! 🔥 #PAKvENG #PakistanCricket#TestAtHome pic.twitter.com/7C0tAj0yLN
— Raja Hamza Farhat (@RajaHamza94851) October 18, 2024
Can’t see every day
What a moment! Ben Stokes caught off his own bat is something you don’t see every day.
— WAQAS (@imwaqasdar) October 18, 2024
Departs
Ben stokes depart..!! #PAKvENG pic.twitter.com/EKGmUgcn29
— Abdullah (Abbey) (@CrickTrack360) October 18, 2024
England in all sort of trouble now. Ben stokes depart for 37..#PAKvENG #PakistanCricket #INDvNZ #RohitSharma pic.twitter.com/w2im0uJjeJ
— Global Update (@GlobalUpdate56) October 18, 2024
Lol
Strikes again
Noman Ali strikes again for Pakistan!
His fifth Tets fifer puts England on the ropes as Ben Stokes departs for 37 runs. #PAKvsENG pic.twitter.com/rNLWnQqkPN— Shoaib Akhtar (@MashhoodZo80732) October 18, 2024
Ben stokes would have pulled this but now no hope
— Anil Balan (@AnilBalan17) October 18, 2024
Fifth fifer
