Pakistan vs England: Ben Stokes' Side Collapses in Series Loss to Jubilant Hosts
The match showcased a stellar performance from bowlers Noman Ali and Sajid Khan, who shared all ten wickets in England's second innings, finishing with impressive figures of 6-42 and 4-69, respectively. Sajid's performance was particularly noteworthy as he recorded a match total of ten wickets.
Pakistan secured a remarkable series victory over England, clinching the third and final Test in Rawalpindi by nine wickets, achieving their win within the first session of day three. The match showcased a stellar performance from bowlers Noman Ali and Sajid Khan, who shared all ten wickets in England's second innings, finishing with impressive figures of 6-42 and 4-69, respectively. Sajid's performance was particularly noteworthy as he recorded a match total of ten wickets.
England's Struggles
England began the day at a precarious 24-3 and collapsed to 112 all out in just 37.2 overs, showcasing a desperate approach against Pakistan's high-quality spin attack. A prime example of this was England captain Ben Stokes, who fell lbw for just three runs after inexplicably leaving a straight delivery from Noman.
With a meager target of 36 runs set for victory, Pakistan made short work of the chase. Captain Shan Masood, who had been under immense pressure to perform throughout the series, provided a fitting finale, scoring 23 runs off just six balls and sealing the win with a towering six.
This victory marked a significant turnaround for Pakistan, who had suffered a heavy defeat by an innings and 47 runs in the first Test in Multan, extending their winless streak at home to six matches. The defeat against England in the first Test was particularly disheartening, as it extended a winless run dating back to February 2021, which included a whitewash on their last tour in late 2022.
Strategic Changes and Future Implications
The embarrassing loss in the opening match led to a strategic overhaul for the second Test, with Pakistan making three changes to the lineup. Among these was Kamran Ghulam, who made an impressive debut by scoring a century. However, it was the inclusion of Noman and Sajid that truly revitalized the team, as they combined to take an astonishing 39 out of the 40 England wickets that fell in the final two Tests.
As a result of their efforts, Pakistan not only turned the series around but also showcased their strength in spin bowling, setting a promising foundation for the team's future endeavors on home soil.
