Sajid Khan Shines as Pakistan Takes Command
England initiated their bowling attack with spin, employing Leach and Bashir from the outset. They received assistance from the pitch, but the Pakistan openers handled the pressure well during the initial five overs. Bashir made the breakthrough by having Abdullah Shafique caught down the leg side, a decision that required the use of DRS to confirm.
Sajid Khan delivered an impressive bowling performance, achieving his second-best figures in Test cricket with 7 wickets for 111 runs, which led to a swift conclusion of England's innings at 291 on Day 3. After beginning the day at 239 for 6, England added some valuable runs thanks to contributions from Jamie Smith and Jack Leach, but ultimately fell behind, leaving Pakistan with a 75-run lead.
By lunch, Pakistan had extended their lead to 118 runs, but not without losing three wickets, entering the break at 43 for 3. Early on, Brydon Carse experienced a couple of fortunate moments; Sajid Khan dropped a challenging catch off his own bowling, and Carse survived a leg-before wicket review that went in his favor. However, Sajid eventually claimed Carse’s wicket, marking his fifth victim when Carse misplayed a shot to long-on.
In the same over, Sajid secured his sixth wicket by bowling out Matthew Potts after he had initially swept for a four. Jamie Smith soon followed, dismissing himself while attempting a big shot, giving Noman Ali his third wicket after Smith was caught at long-off. Leach and Shoaib Bashir managed to hit a few boundaries in a last-wicket partnership, prolonging Pakistan's wait for the final wicket. Sajid concluded England's innings by having Bashir caught at short mid-wicket, with the innings finishing in under an hour of play.
England initiated their bowling attack with spin, employing Leach and Bashir from the outset. They received assistance from the pitch, but the Pakistan openers handled the pressure well during the initial five overs. Bashir made the breakthrough by having Abdullah Shafique caught down the leg side, a decision that required the use of DRS to confirm.
Shan Masood managed a boundary off Bashir but was soon dismissed, caught at gully off the same bowler after misplaying a shot. Bashir then bagged his third wicket just before lunch, finding the outside edge of Saim Ayub’s bat.
Brief Scores:
Pakistan 366 & 43/3 (Saim Ayub 22; Shoaib Bashir 3-27) leads England 291 (Ben Duckett 114; Sajid Khan 7-111, Noman Ali 3-101) by 118 runs.
