Browsing: Pakistan

Pakistan complete dominant third Test win over England, win series

England tamely succumb to a nine-wicket defeat to Pakistan in the third and pivotal Test in Rawalpindi, going down by a 2-1 loss in the series.

Pakistan have won the three-match Test series with England after storming to a nine-wicket victory inside three days in Rawalpindi.

Having suffered one of the most embarrassing Test defeats in history in the first of two matches in Multan, Pakistan have since opted for pitches with more turn.

That has given Noman Ali and Sajid Khan the platform to produce sustained, sometimes unplayable spells of spin bowling, the pair once again delivering during Saturday’s play.

All 10 wickets of the second innings were taken by the duo as England succumbed to 112 all out, Pakistan requiring just 3.1 overs to chase down the 36 that were required to complete the comeback series win.

Within seven sessions of winning the toss, England had crumbled to 267 and 112 all out, Pakistan’s burst from the middle order onwards on Friday to make 344 proving pivotal in the context of the match.

Another England collapse

Resuming on 24-3, it was imperative that Joe Root and Harry Brook put together a lengthy fourth-wicket stand to give England any hope, and they deserve some credit for reaching 66.

Nevertheless, the writing was on the way as Brook (26), Ben Stokes (3) and Jamie Smith (3) all departed in quick succession, Root (33) not far behind them to leave England on 85-7.

Gus Atkinson and Jack Leach both made 10, but there was no answer to Noman (6-42) and Sajid (4-69) as Pakistan set up a routine run chase.

Leach managed to dismiss Saim Ayub for eight, yet that allowed captain Shan Masood to come to the crease and smash 23 from just six deliveries to get Pakistan over the line in style.

For his 134 in Pakistan’s first innings, Saud Shakeel deservedly won man of the match, with Noman and Sajid taking all but one of England’s 20 wickets.

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Preview: Test Series: Pakistan vs. England – prediction, team news, series so far

Sports Mole previews the third and final Test between Pakistan and England, scheduled to get underway on Thursday at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.

It is still all to play for as we head into the third and final test between Pakistan and England which is set to get underway on Thursday morning at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.

The series hangs in the balance after the first two matches in Multan were split, with England winning the first and Pakistan levelling proceedings with a victory last week.

Match preview

Pakistan celebrate taking an England wicket in second Test in October 2024.© Imago

This series as been a bit of a rollercoaster for Pakistan, which began with them making an unwanted piece of history, becoming the first team ever to lose a Test by an innings after scoring over 500 runs in their first knock.

That result extended the Shaheen’s losing streak in Test matches to six in a row and was also their seventh loss on home soil in their last nine, highlighting the difficulties the team have faced in recent times.

In an effort to end their dismal record, the Men in Green took a major gamble in match two, opting to use to same pitch as they did in the first game, and it paid off handsomely, as they pulled off a 152-run series-levelling victory.

The idea behind using the same strip a second time was to bring their spinners more into the match, and it worked a treat. With the help of sharp turn and unpredictable bounce, left-arm spinner Noman Ali took seven of the eight wickets that fell on Friday, finishing with an impressive 8/46 in the innings and match figures of 11/147.

Heading into the series decider, it seems that the hosts are employing similar tactics, with images circulating on social media revealing the use of six patio heaters, two industrial fans and two large windbreaks to dry the pitch and create conditions favorable for spin bowling.

England batsman Joe Root in October 2024.© Imago

Meanwhile, England arrive in Rawalpindi looking to deny Pakistan their first series win since they beat South Africa in 2021, and head coach Brendon McCullum along with captain Ben Stokes conducted a thorough inspection of the pitch ahead of the team’s practice session on Tuesday.

In anticipation for a spin battle, the visitors have made a tactical change to their squad, bringing in leg-spinner Rehan Ahmed as a third spinning option, alongside Jack Leach and Shoaib Bashir.

Leach, England’s leading wicket-taker in the series, took seven wickets in the first Test before adding another seven in the second match, and he will undoubtedly be Stokes’ key bowler in their effort to clinch the final game.

Fellow spinner Bashir has also shown promise in the series, with five of his six wickets coming in the second Test defeat, suggesting that the 21-year-old is rising to the challenge in the red-ball format and gaining confidence in favourable conditions.

With the bat, Joe Root, regarded as one of the world’s best players of spin, became the Three Lions’ all-time leading Test run-scorer in the opening Test and will likely be tasked with anchoring the innings against what should be a spin-barrage from their opponents.

Team News

Pakistan duo Salman Agha and Sajid Khan during second Test against England on October 17, 2024.© Imago

While Sajid Khan and Noman Ali claimed the headlines in the last match for taking all 20 wickets, debutant Kamran Ghulam‘s 118 off 224 balls in the first innings was equally crucial to the victory, and he will be looking to follow up in this match.

Shan Masood is expected to maintain a similar lineup in this one, though Zahid Mahmood failed to pick up a wicket in the last match and could be forced to make way here, potentially for Mohammad Ali.

As mentioned, England have opted to go with a spin-heavy lineup for this match drafting Rehan Ahmed, who last played against India in Rajkot earlier this year, as a third spin choice to support Leach and Bashir.

The only other confirmed change for the visitors in this match sees Matthew Potts making way for seamer Gus Atkinson, meaning that Stokes remains the only specialist all-rounder in the squad.

Pakistan squad: Shan Masood (c), Saud Shakeel, Aamir Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Haseebullah, Kamran Ghulam, Mehran Mumtaz, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Huraira, Mohammad Rizwan, Noman Ali, Saim Ayub, Sajid Khan, Salman Ali Agha and Zahid Mehmood

England squad: Ben Stokes (c), Rehan Ahmed, Gus Atkinson, Shoaib Bashir, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Jordan Cox, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Josh Hull, Jack Leach, Ollie Pope, Matthew Potts, Joe Root, Jamie Smith, Olly Stone, Chris Woakes.

Series so far

Test 1 of 3: England won by an innings and 47 runs
Pakistan – 556 & 220
England – 823/7d

Test 2 of 3: Pakistan won by 152 runs
Pakistan – 366 & 221
England – 291 & 144

SM words green background© PA Photos

We say: England to win

While Pakistan pulled off a sensational comeback win last time out, England are now wise to the challenge and have responded by opting to bring in a third specialist spinner, which could be a crucial factor in this match.

The hosts would have received a huge morale boost from the result in the second match in Multan, but the visitors’ experienced core could be telling in this clutch fixture, and we fancy them to secure this match and the series.

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Noman Ali takes eight wickets as Pakistan defeat England in second Test

Noman Ali sensationally takes eight wickets as Pakistan win the second Test against England in Multan by 152 runs.

Noman Ali decimated the England batting lineup on the fourth day of the second Test to earn Pakistan a 152-run victory in Multan.

Chasing a target of 297, the tourists were already underdogs before Ben Duckett (0) and Zak Crawley (3) were dismissed during the closing 45 minutes of Thursday’s play.

While England resumed on 36-2, that soon became 37-3 as Ollie Pope (22) gave Sajid Khan his second wicket, which subsequently led to his fellow spinner Noman taking over.

Wickets were falling at regular intervals on a rapidly deteriorating pitch, Joe Root (18) and Harry Brook (16) unable to replicate their efforts of the first Test.

Ben Stokes and Brydon Carse each come out with credit, the skipper making a lively 37 while Carse hit three sixes on his way to a knock of 27.

However, England were unable to stifle the wizardry of Noman, who ended with figures of 8-46 as he and Khan shared the 33.3 overs in their entirely to bowl their opponents out for 144.

Some context required

Although the defeat brings the series level at one apiece with one match remaining, it should come with perspective with England having been required to successfully chase down their highest-ever target in Asia.

Only three other teams in history have chased down such a target on away territory in the history of Test cricket, while it would have been the highest successful chase in Pakistan had it been achieved.

Pakistan’s bowlers set their own feat, however. Sajid and Noman’s 33.3-over stint was the longest unchanged bowling attack in Test cricket since 1956.

There is now a break before the third Test in Rawalpindi begins on October 24.

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