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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Sport
James Wallace

Pakistan beat England in third Test to seal series victory – as it happened

Pakistan England Sajid Khan Abdullah Shafique Shan Masood Leach Noman Ali Saim Ayub Cricket Joe Root
Pakistan players and staff lift the trophy after completing a 2-1 series victory.
Pakistan players and staff lift the trophy after completing a 2-1 series victory. Photograph: Akhtar Soomro/Reuters

Report, reaction and analysis

That’s us done for this match and indeed the series. Thanks on behalf of all the OBO team for your company and correspondence throughout. We’ll be back for the West Indies white ball stuff next week (!) and for the Test tour of New Zealand next month. Until then, goodbye!

Simon’s full and finished report is up:

Updated

Brendon McCullum is having an honest chat with Ian Ward and a still bristling Nasser Hussain on Sky. It’s worth seeking out to watch in full.

Sajid Khan is Player of the Series with his 19 wickets at 21.10:

Off the field I’m a funny guy and you should be that inside as well to keep spirits up. On this pitch if you took time to play, like Saud did, there wasn’t that much in it. You had to vary pace, hit the right areas here.

Nomi bhai (Noman Ali) is one of the most experienced players on the Pakistan circuit, we should be sharing this Man of the Series award”

England captain Ben Stokes:

It’s disappointing. We got thrown some challenges over these last two games and weren’t able to stand up to them. All credit to Pakistan. You get thrown challenges all over the world… in a couple of weeks we go to New Zealand and will have to try to match them as well.

You do what you’ve got to do. We had guys playing a one-day series at home and then coming out here. The lads trained hard but when you get out in the middle it can be completely different. Whether you do well or not, you should always try to take the positives. There have been some unbelievable individual performances throughout the series. A lot to take out. Rehan and Bash coming to play Test cricket here, we know how much that means to their families. Two incredibly talented cricketers, the only way is up.”

Pakistan captain Shan Masood speaks:

Like London buses (Test victories) come together! The first win came after a long time and it was backed up by a series win. It’s special. For everyone, to stand up and give their best, it means a lot. It’s about character. To be here and standing as the wining team, it’s the most special thing for us.

There are always going to be individual performances - Saud’s was one of the best innings I’ve seen. But it’s small efforts combined with the big efforts that count. Our ground fielding was outstanding in this match. Little things you do turn into big things. There have been so many characters in this series and everyone has chipped in. We haven’t played in these conditions ourselves. This was challenging from day one. The onus is on us now to keep taking 20 wickets.

Bowlers win you matches but our first-innings batting in 2024 has been superb. We have posted scored that set games up and now we’re taking 20 wickets we’re getting results as well. It’s heartening to have good players come in and people have grown in stature. It’s about the whole team. We’d like to dedicate this to the people of Pakistan, who’ve been through a lot. Hopefully this will put a smile on people’s faces.”

I’ll bring you some quotes from the post match presentation in a second.

Cricket never stops though and Brian Withington knows it:

“Congratulations to Pakistan who have turned a crisis into a dramatic drubbing of England over the last two tests. I’m not sure Jason Gillespie thinks it’s necessarily a blueprint for the future, but it’s certainly livened up the present.

Can I recommend all cricket fans now get themselves in front of the India chase against NZ, where the former are going at more than 6 an over in pursuit of 350 odd, urged on by a crowd that is bubbling with excitement at the thrill of the chase.”

India need 225 runs with six wickets remaining. Virat Kohli and Washington Sundar are in the middle.

Simon Burnton’s report is hot and fresh out the stadium:

A series that started with England breaking records ended with England simply broken. Where they needed to fight they faltered, where the situation demanded strength they surrendered as Pakistan raced to a nine-wicket win, and 2-1 series success in Rawalpindi”

England’s post mortem will rumble on but Pakistan are revelling in the moment. A week is a long time in Test cricket.

Nasser Hussain describes spin as Bazball’s Kryptonite and is visibly ticking about the manner of the defeat. Taking nothing away from Pakistan at all, I think he is more upset by way England folded, the old fighter in him finds it hard to stomach such a stark capitulation, especially with the talent England have. Question of temperament, ticker and talent will no doubt swirl after this.

Updated

A smattering of immediate reactions:

Updated

OBO don Rob Smyth pops up with a telling stat:

Before Joe Root was out in the first innings in Multan England had scored 1034 for 9 in the series. After that, 603 for 38.

and another:

England have never lost a three-Test series after going 1-0 up. They’ve lost longer series, most recently in India this year, but not three.

Pakistan win the series 2-1!

Sealed with a six! Shan launches Bashir down the ground and hugs Shafique in the middle of the wicket. Fantastic scenes, Pakistan win their first series at home since 2021. What a reversal, we’ll be unpicking this series for a long time to come.

Updated

3rd over: Pakistan 31-1 (Shafique 5, Masood 17) Shan Masood on the charge! The Pakistan skipper comes to the crease and smashes four fours in a row off Leach! One more hit will do it…

Updated

WICKET! Saim Ayub lbw b Leach 8 (Pakistan 14-1)

Leach strikes!

2nd over: Pakistan 14-0 (Ayub 8, Shafique 5) Shoaib Bashir from t’other end. England go upstairs to see if Abdullah Shafique got a tickle to Jamie Smith. Flat line. Nowt doing.

1st over: Pakistan 10-0 (Ayub 8, Shafique 1) Leach opens the bowling and so begin the last rites. Saim Ayub is in a hurry, two sweeps sent to the fence in succession.

Pakistan’s openers are out in the middle.

“Masterclass of spin bowling across the two Tests from Sajid and Noman. Big plaudits though to the glovework of Rizwan . Well done Pakistan. What a turn around.” You are not wrong John Jones.

“A devastating turnaround” Says Michael Atherton on the tv commentary.

Noman Ali finishes with 20 wickets at 13.85

Sajid Khan with 19 wickets at 21.10

“Morning James”

It is, Felix Wood.

“As dispiriting as this is, I think the mammoth effort expended by England in the first Test should be taken into account. For Root and Brook the physical impact of their efforts must have been huge and that doesn’t go away after a few days. Pakistan’s rotation wasn’t only good for the mindset reset, it also brought in significant freshness.

England’s problem has been that the players who didn’t score big in that test haven’t been able to take their turn stepping up. Duckett’s turbocharged style hides the fact he’s a pretty solid opener, runs wise, and I’ve accepted the feast or famine argument about Crawley, but 3 is a big problem. I’d worry about Smith going there and keeping wicket, Lawrence has gone backwards...what’s the answer broseph?”

Always nice to be called broseph before 8am Felix. I think Root should bat three. He doesn’t want to but it seems the only answer at the minute. I think the manner of this defeat will be what sticks in the craw for a lot of England fans. Stokes and co don’t do draws but there’s something to be said about fighting to the last, digging in and showing some spirit. That’s a huge part of the game and one that this side don’t want to seem to particularly entertain.

I love the smell of wickets in the morning

England all out for 112. Pakistan need 36 runs to win the series 2-1

Leach is comprehensively stumped and that is England run through. A lovely moment as Sajid Khan and Noman Ali walk off hand in hand clutching the ball between them and raising it to the crowd. They have taken 39 wickets between them in the last two matches. What a story.

WICKET! Jack Leach st Mohammad Rizwan b Noman Ali 10

Updated

37th over: England 109-9 (Leach 8, Bashir 3) England’s innings nearly all over as Bashir is given lbw but the decision is overturned on DRS. It hit young Shoaib outside the line. On we go…

36th over: England 109-9 (Leach 8, Bashir 3) England lead by 32 runs with one wicket left. Oh ye of little faith.

35th over: England 107-9 (Leach 8, Bashir 0) Shoaib Bashir is England’s last man.

“Just watched Jethro Tull here in Naples.” Writes Colum Fordham. “Nice to see Sajid Khan’s celebration of a wicket by balancing on one leg resembles Ian Anderson’s classic pose. They’re both exhuberant performers. Sajid has been superb in these two tests, turning the series around. As has his spin twin Noman Ali. England currently in Noman’s land.”

WICKET! Rehan Ahmed b Sajid Khan 7 (England on the brink)

Rehan moves across his stumps to play a cute dab but makes a mess of it, the ball evading his stroke but not the stumps. One more to go. Sajid Khan kisses the pitch in celebration, that’s his tenth wicket of the match.

Updated

34th over: England 106-8 (Rehan Ahmed 7, Leach 8) “If England can somehow get a lead of around 100 you just never know I suppose” Simon McMahon sees sense mid email by the looks of it.

33rd over: England 104-7 (Rehan Ahmed 6, Leach 7) Here comes Jack Leach, he’s going to have some fun by the looks of it. Reverse-sweeping Sajid with aplomb for four and then driving handsomely through the covers for three more. England do make 100, I doubt they’ll make lunch…

“There are many things I miss about the old country” writes Phil Withall. “Proper pubs, football, family. Right now, I miss the fact that I can’t go back to bed and ignore the cricket. I shall just have to go to the local unpub like pub and hope they aren’t showing it...”

A good ol’ fashioned England batting collapse Phil, if you weren’t homesick before…

WICKET! Gus Atkinson b Sajid Khan 10 (England 97-8)

Stumps splattered! Big off break from Sajid and Atkinson wafts all around it.

32nd over: England 97-7 (Atkinson 10, Rehan Ahmed 6) An Atkinson single.

31st over: England 96-7 (Atkinson 9, Rehan Ahmed 6) England inch towards a hundred and lead by 19 runs. Oh, but they’ve lost seven wickets. Apologies if these are the first words you are reading as an England fan waking up with hope in your heart this Saturday morning.

30th over: England 92-7 (Atkinson 9, Rehan Ahmed 2) Rehan takes a single down to long on. Root’s wicket was Noman’s fifth of the innings by the way. What an impact he and Sajid Khan have had on this series. Pakistan have found a way to win it after going 1-0 down and conceding 800 runs in an innings in the first game at Multan.

29th over: England 91-7 (Atkinson 9, Rehan Ahmed 1) Gus Atkinson reverse sweeps for four, Rehan cuts away to get off the mark. England lead by 14 runs.

How’s your morning going?

Updated

28th over: England 85-7 (Atkinson 4, Rehan Ahmed) The players take drinks. Pakistan’s first hour I reckon.

WICKET! Joe Root c Mohammad Rizwan b Noman Ali 33 (England 85-7)

Goodnight Viennetta. Lovely piece of bowling from Noman who sends down a beauty to see the back of Root and more or less seal the series for Pakistan. Flight, dip and just enough turn to lure the shot and take the edge. Root rips off his gloves and shakes his head, there wasn’t too much he could’ve done about that one.

Updated

I’m still trying to find a clip of Ben Stokes’ wicket complete with befuddling leave. Here’s Jamie Smith’s for good measure:

27th over: England 79-6 (Root 28, Atkinson 3) Sajid Khan to Root. Penny for his thoughts. A swept single sees the more experienced man keep the strike.

“Is Tim de Lisle (LATER) about to have a day off?” Muses Tom in Guatemala. Ha! Tim and I exchanged emails last evening about a potential handover time. Fair to say there was a soupçon of gallows of humour.

26th over: England 78-6 (Root 27, Atkinson 3) Gus Atkinson whips for two runs off his pads. England now lead by one run! You’re still thinking about the bad news aren’t you?

“Following from Essaouira in Morocco.” Writes Andrew Sparrow. “Just woken here by the call to prayer, expecting more wickets but good to read the Yorkies fighting back.”

This email was sent about 12 minutes ago. A fair bit has happened since.

25th over: England 76-6 (Root 26, Atkinson 1) Gus Atkinson arrives and knocks his first ball for a single. England trail by one run and are no reliant an on almighty tail wag and something special from Joe Root. Otherwise we are outta here in a hurry.

WICKET! Jamie Smith b Sajid Khan 3 (England 75-6)

Gah! Smith is gone gone gone! He comes charging down the pitch and attempts a wild hoick into the leg side, Sajid sees him coming and beats him all ends up in the flight. Stumps splattered and England have had a mad twenty minutes. Joe Root surveying the carnage from the non-strikers end.

24th over: England 74-5 (Root 26, Smith 3) Dot follows dot. Noman Ali stitches together a maiden to Jamie Smith.

23rd over: England 74-5 (Root 26, Smith 3) Smith needs to repeat his first innings heroics if England are to get themselves a sniff here. He drives for three to open his account.

22nd over: England 70-5 (Root 25, Smith 0) Jamie Smith arrives and blocks out four dots to Noman as everyone comes to terms with what has just happened.

“Morning all” Here’s Rob Harper to provide some much needed perspective…

“I’ve been consultant on call for obstetrics overnight at my local hospital, so I’ve spent the usual restless night on the sofa.

What a wonderful pleasure it has been to follow this series. I enjoyed the record blitz of the first one, but there’s nothing like a tight low scoring game, whether defending a score of 120 in club cricket, or the second and third tests here.”

WICKET! Ben Stokes lbw b Noman Ali 3 (England 70-5)

“A complete brain fade” says Nasser Hussain on the tv commentary… Stokes leaves a ball from Noman and it thunks into his back leg bang in front of all three. Stokes does not review, stomping off in disbelief at what he has just done. Understatement: England did not need that.

21st over: England 68-4 (Root 25, Stokes 1) Root clips off his hip for one. Stokes is off the mark with a drive to cover.

“I’m in dreary Matlock for a 30th birthday weekend tossing up the merits of more sleep vs following the cricket.” Writes Michael Robinson. “I wonder what’ll bring me more pain: Englands inevitable collapse and innings defeat, or trying to get through today on 5 hours sleep? At least the signal is patchy so any flurry of wickets will be slower for me.”

A load of blokes scaling the Heights of Abraham is it Micky? God speed.

20th over: England 66-4 (Root 24, Stokes 0) Ben Stokes arrives in the middle, he needs a score. His side need him to get a score.

WICKET! Harry Brook c Mohammad Rizwan b Noman Ali 26 (England 66-4)

Just as it seemed England were settling in for a decent partnership Noman Ali steps up to snare the wicket! There was 13kph difference between the ball before and the ball that Brook got an edge to, suckered by the change of pace, he didn’t need to play at it but dangled his bat outside off, a big nick swallowed by Rizwan and Pakistan celebrate with glee. The lead is down to 11 runs but England lose their fourth wicket.

19th over: England 65-3 (Root 23, Brook 23) Another decent over for England, six runs pocketed off it with no alarms and no surprises…

18th over: England 59-3 (Root 21, Brook 22) Shot! Root reverse sweeps Sajid Khan for four and each batter collects a single. My daughter is engrossed in ‘Stick Man’ by the side of me. Each to their own. I’m more of a Smed and a Smoo kind of guy.

17th over: England 53-3 (Root 16, Brook 21) Brook punches and collects three runs into the off side. Root sweeps fine for a single. Fifty up for England, the deficit down to 24 runs.

16th over: England 48-3 (Root 14, Brook 18) Root clips for a single behind square. This pair looking, I’m not going to say comfortable… sprightly. Let’s go with sprightly.

15th over: England 47-3 (Root 13, Brook 18) Sajid Khan rattles whizzes through an over at warp speed. Someone think of the OBO scribe? Just a Root single off it.

Warp speed chic
Hair down to there
Impressive moustache
Love Wickets came in a bottle with a twist off cap

14th over: England 46-3 (Root 12, Brook 18) Root does exceedingly well to drop his hands and block out a grubber that shot towards his ankles in front of all three stumps. Phew. Brook gets out the paddle sweep for a single. It is cat and mouse between bowler and batter, absorbing Test cricket.

13th over: England 43-3 (Root 11, Brook 16) Now then, Harry Brook goes on the offensive, slapping Sajid Khan through cover and then biffing down the ground for back to back boundaries! Drop! Next ball Brook gets a tickle on and the ball flies to short leg but the close in fielder can’t snaffle it! Let off for Brook. Two more worked into the leg side make it ten off the over.

12th over: England 33-3 (Root 11, Brook 6) Root and Brook have started busily, picking up the runs on offer and scampering between the wickets. There’s signs of turn out there but it isn’t ragging square at the moment. There are runs out there still, but you’ve gotta graft for them.

Updated

11th over: England 26-3 (Root 8, Brook 5) Sajid Khan from t’other end. He’s up and at them, offering a few choice words to Root as the batter works a single from outside off into the leg side. Sajid skids it on, targeting the pads and stumps. England desperate not to lose an early wicket and get a partnership building. Two more singles collected.

Who’s out there? Do drop us a line if you are one of the bleary eyed or far flung followers this morning.

10th over: England 26-3 (Root 6, Brook 4) The sun beats down in Rawalpindi, a hotter day today by all accounts. Certainly some heat on England…Brook blocks the first ball of the day from Noman Ali and then drives into the off side for a single. Close! Root is saved by an inside edge onto his pad which umpire Chris Gaffaney spotted and so did Shan Masood who decides against a review. Root takes a single down the ground to keep strike.

Here we go, Harry Brook is on strike to Noman Ali. Let’s play!

Our man on the ground, Simon Burnton, sends in a quick missive:

“The entrance used by the media to access the ground here in Rawalpindi is called Poultry Gate, so called because it’s in the middle of a big chicken farm, and accessed by a long, single-track road with large hen houses on either side. It is noisy and smelly but the birds themselves look in good health. The headless chickens are inside the ground.

Early start today to make up for lost time. England’s problem is lost causes.”

Scratch that, play starts in about five minutes due to the early finish yesterday. I knew that really, I was just testing you…

Preamble

Hello and welcome to what is probably the last OBO of this enthralling series. Pakistan have England right where they want them at the start of day three, namely trailing by 53 runs in their second innings and having seen their top three batters chewed up and spun out.

All the noise from the England camp is that they still believe they can pull this off, knock off the deficit and set Pakistan a tricksy total batting last. That outcome did seem somewhat unlikely when Noman Ali and Sajid Khan were up cranking up the spin cycle last evening but this is Ben Stokes’ England side and so anything is possible.

England’s Rehan Ahmed was feeling plucky after picking up four wickets on day two:

We’re still positive… there’s no sense of negativity or heads down. Everyone knows there’s a job to do and we can’t wait to do it.

There’s so much batting to come and we’re still very positive in the changing room. The momentum is with them at the moment, but ­hopefully we can soak it up a bit, put it back on them and try to get a lead.

I think it’s still level, isn’t it? We’ve got so much batting in the locker room. Obviously, three down is not ideal, but it is what it is.”

Play starts in just over 30 minutes in Rawalpindi.

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