England were spun to a feeble defeat before lunch on the third day of the final Test in Rawalpindi to give resurgent Pakistan a 2-1 series win.
The tourists were again dissected by Noman Ali and Sajid Khan, spiralling to 112 all out, their lowest ever total in Pakistan.
From 24-3 overnight, Harry Brook and Joe Root began with confidence, only for Brook’s edge off Noman to start an England capitulation of seven wickets for 46 runs.
Ben Stokes’ brain fade to play no shot and be lbw to Noman, followed by Jamie Smith’s wild charge at Sajid were particularly ugly. Root’s departure for 33, edging Noman, ended England’s slim hopes.
The introduction of Noman and Sajid after Pakistan lost the first Test changed the complexion of the series and once more they shared all 10 wickets. Left-armer Noman ended with 6-42 and Sajid 4-69, the latter with 11 in the match.
It left Pakistan a target of just 36, a victory by nine wickets securing their first home series win in almost four years.
The turnaround vindicated a pivot in strategy to dry pitches, unleashing the brilliance of Noman and Sajid.
For England, there was no repeat of their series win here two years ago. Instead, a third Test loss in four matches and seventh overall in 2024 sealed only a second series defeat under Stokes’ captaincy.
There is a short turnaround to their next Test series, in New Zealand at the end of November, while an almost entirely different squad begins a white-ball series in the West Indies next week. (BBC)
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