Noman Ali picked up eight wickets as Pakistan’s top brass took them to a 152-run win over England in the second Test in Multan on Friday, leveling the three-match series at 1-1.

Chasing 297 points for victory on a turnaround track at the Multan Cricket Stadium, England reached 144 points by mid-morning on the fourth day.

Skipper Ben Stokes was England’s top scorer with 37 points, but the frontline batsmen struggled with the turning ball.

Noman was selected among Pakistan bowlers with 8-46.

Pakistan were already on the rise when England were on 36-2 and needed an exceptional batting display to get anywhere near the target.

Vice-captain Ollie Pope (22) fell in the second over of the day, giving off-spinner Sajid Khan a return catch before left-arm spinner Noman ran amok.

Noman dealt the tourists a major blow when he trapped Joe Root lbw for 18, a decision which the batsman re-examined but was unable to overturn.

Harry Brook (16) was similarly denied by Noman and England slumped to 88-6 when Jamie Smith was eliminated.

Stokes has played some match-winning shots in his illustrious career and England desperately needed a similar innings from him.

The captain, scoring at a run-a-ball rate, danced down the track against Noman and swung his bat, only for it to fly out of his hands and towards mid-wicket.

Pakistan wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan had all the time in the world to collect the ball and clear the ball, with Stokes well out of the crease.

The third and final Test begins on Thursday in Rawalpindi.