Pakistan have done it. Shan Masood and co. have finally ended their winless drought by securing an emphatic victory in PAK vs ENG 3rd Test to win their first series at home in three years. Once again, it was the spin twins Sajid Khan and Noman Ali who terrorized England, leaving the batters bamboozled with their phenomenal spells. England have been dealt with a huge blow in terms of their prospects of making it to the World Test Championship (WTC) final, losing the series 2-1.
Pakistan have successfully avenged their loss from 2022, the series in which England seemingly embarked on the ‘Bazball era’. Incidentally, it died a slow and turning death in the same place.
Pakistan run through England to clinch PAK vs ENG 3rd Test
England were already in trouble at the start of the play on Day 3, having lost three quick wickets in the final session on the previous day. While Joe Root (33) and Harry Brook (26) attempted to resurrect England’s innings, it was just a little while before Noman Ali and Sajid Khan returned to haunt the visitors. The two spinners went on to take 6 and 4 wickets each to send England’s batting order spinning into misery.
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Ben Stokes and co. registered their second lowest total against Pakistan after being bundled out for just 112 runs. This was also the first time that no Pakistan pacer had bowled a single delivery in a Test. The Test marked the second consecutive time that Pakistan spinners – Noman Ali, Sajid Khan and Zahid Mahmood (1) – had claimed all 20 wickets in a match.
As a result of this furious assault from the Pakistan bowlers, the visitors were forced to set a target of just 36 runs, which the hosts aimed to finish before the end of the 1st session. Pakistan beat England comfortably by 9 wickets and completed the run-chase in just 3.1 overs to end their winless drought at home.
Bold calls do the job for Pakistan
Pakistan’s decision to drop Babar Azam, Shaheen Afridi and Babar Azam after losing the 1st Test reaped rewards in both the games to follow. Their exclusion paved way for Sajid Khan, Noman Ali and Kamran Ghulam to enter the side, giving Pakistan the much-needed boost that they needed. Both Sajid Khan and Noman Ali enjoyed enormous success in Multan and Rawalpindi, bagging 39 wickets between themselves in just two Tests. Sajid Khan played a handy 48-run knock in Pakistan 1st innings, rescuing the team after a collapse following centurion Saud Shakeel’s departure. Finally, Pakistan may have found a solution for how to play at home, even though it comes a little late in the ongoing WTC cycle.
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