England opener Ben Duckett says Pakistan can
"crumble" and are under "pressure", despite the home side
ending day two of the second Test in the stronger position in Multan.
Duckett's 114 led England's rapid response to Pakistan's
366, the tourists reaching 211-2.
But off-spinner Sajid Khan utilised the used pitch to take
three wickets in an overall collapse of 4-14 that left England 239-6.
"Whatever the state of the game we always believe we
can go and win," Duckett told Test Match Special.
"The first session tomorrow is going to be huge. If we
can bat for as much as we can and get close to their total I think we will
actually be favourites."
England earned an unprecedented 3-0 clean sweep in Pakistan
two years ago, then pulled off a record-breaking run-filled victory in the
opening match of this series last week.
In response, Pakistan made changes to their selection
committee, dropped superstar batter Babar Azam and re-used the pitch from the
first Test for the second, choosing three frontline spinners in their XI.
"We know that they can crumble and so the pressure is
over to them," Duckett told Sky Sports.
"We're 1-0 up in the series, won the last series 3-0
and we know they're going to fight to make it as hard as they can for us. But
we always believe we're in the game."
Sajid was one of four new faces in the Pakistan XI, playing
his first first-class match since his last Test against Australia in January.
The 31-year-old watched the first Test on TV at home in
Peshawar before being recalled to win his ninth cap for Pakistan.
In the space of 10 deliveries, the charismatic Sajid removed
Joe Root, Duckett and Harry Brook, celebrating with his trademark one-legged
pose.
"He's certainly a character. He was chirping
away," said Duckett. "He doesn't get loads of bounce, bowls quite
quick and flat. He didn't really miss."
England now face the likely prospect on a fourth-innings
run-chase on a pitch that Duckett says will spin "more and more".
But the Nottinghamshire man, who turns 30 on day three,
believes England will be in the contest in they can get close to parity on
first innings.
"If we can get as close to Pakistan's total as we can
and bowl better than them in the second innings, I think we'll be in a good
position," he said.
"If we bowl well and keep the chase to anywhere around
200 or less, we'll believe we're in the game."
