PIn a thrilling display of skill and precision, spinners Noman Ali and Sajid Khan overwhelmed England’s batting lineup within just three days, securing a long-awaited series victory for Pakistan with a commanding nine-wicket triumph in the third and final Test match held in Rawalpindi on Saturday.
The seasoned 38-year-old left-arm spinner Noman and the deft 31-year-old off-spinner Sajid, who had previously claimed all 20 wickets on a revisited second Test pitch to draw the series, once again dismantled the batsmen on a meticulously prepared dry surface by taking 19 wickets collectively, as England crumbled to a total of 112 runs by Day Three. This score marks England’s lowest innings total in Pakistan, surpassing their prior low of 130 all out in Lahore back in 1987.
Having secured a significant 77-run lead in the first innings, Pakistan continued their stellar performance, reaching 37-1 just as the lunch break approached. This remarkable achievement marked their first home series victory since 2021, when they triumphed over South Africa with a 2-0 scoreline.
Pakistan’s victory against England holds a ‘special’ significance. Skipper Shan Masood, remaining unbeaten at 23, put an end to his string of six consecutive Test match defeats as captain by leading his team to triumph over England in the second Test. He clinched the win with a majestic six over long-off against Shoaib Bashir, having previously dazzled with four consecutive boundaries off Jack Leach’s deliveries.
In the heated contest, left-arm spinner Jack Leach claimed the solitary wicket that fell in the session, successfully appealing for an LBW against Saim Ayub, who contributed eight runs.
Expressing his feelings, Masood remarked, ‘It’s special. The first win came after a long time, and it was crowned by a series win. It’s all about character. To stand here as the victorious team, it’s the most special thing for us.’
England’s batting folded meekly against the spin duo for the second time around as Ali followed his three wickets in the first innings with 6-42 on a wicket which was dried out by industrial-sized giant fans and outdoor heaters.
Khan grabbed 4-69 to add to his first innings six-wicket haul as England batters couldn’t negotiate the variable bounce and turn that Khan and Ali extracted.