England beat Pakistan in deciding Test series – Irvine Times

They collapsed for just 112 as their resolve evaporated in the third Test, the lowest total of the ‘Bazball’ era, leaving the hosts a paltry target of just 36.

Pakistan cruised to a nine-wicket victory in sloppy fashion, taking just 19 balls and ending with a huge six from captain Shan Masood, leaving England to suffer a three-match series loss 1-0 for the first time.

It seems ages ago that England put together a mammoth 823 for seven declared on a flat deck in Multan, their highest total in 94 years, and it took extreme spin conditions to achieve such a dramatic turnaround.

The way Pakistan have artificially aged the last two pitches with fans, heaters and maybe even rakes has raised eyebrows, but back-to-back struggles against a side yet to win a home Test, let alone a series since the start of 2021, represent a significant obstacle.

Once again, Pakistan’s spin duo of Sajid Ali and Noman Ali were the destroyers, sharing all 10 wickets and taking their total to 39 from 40 since being called up for the second Test. Just one scalp from Zahid Mahmood spoiled their full house prospects.

Yet England were clearly not up to the task, with captain Ben Stokes fittingly ending his innings on his knees after being trapped without offering a hit.

The odds were already stacked against the tourists after losing their top three in nine overs the night before, but it took a while for England’s soft underbelly to reveal itself.

Joe Root and Harry Brook reduced the overnight deficit from 53 to 11 before the middle-order carnage began in earnest.

Brook had one scare, cutting off a serious low chance at short leg after taking back-to-back fours off Sajid, but for a brief period the Yorkshire pair settled into a period of quiet build-up.

It proved to be the calm before the storm as Brook, Stokes and Jamie Smith all fell before the scores were even.

Brook was destroyed by a quicker, flatter pass from Noman, caught from behind as he looked to score rather than defend. It was an error in judgment, but nothing as remarkable as the next two.

Stokes came out with one last chance to make his mark on a series that had largely eluded him, but instead ended his journey with another disappointment.

With just three to his name and looking for a foothold in spin conditions that were giving him no end of problems, the skipper shaped up to block Noman from the wicket before inexplicably withdrawing the bat.

The ball drifted with the arm instead of turning down the leg and pinned Stokes clean in front of the stumps. He remained crouched on the floor as the inevitable sentence was pronounced, his hands thrown up in despair.

Smith went to the other end of the spectrum, trying to replicate the first innings six-hit haul as he danced down the track to hit Sajid over the top. He missed from distance, crashing through the line as the ball shot across the wicket and into the off-stump.

Sajid’s passionate hip-slapping celebration reached a new peak as he roared ecstatically and punched the air, the result almost certain.

The last piece of the puzzle was Root and he soon fell into place. He had largely risen above the disaster on his way to 33, but when Noman tempted him forward and got him out, he couldn’t help but fall behind.

He hoped that England had to set a vague competitive goal with him. Pakistan ripped off the tail, Gus Atkinson was rocked by a beauty from Sajid and Rehan Ahmed spun around his legs looking for a strike.

A dreadful innings came to a fittingly farcical end when Noman spotted Leach coming out of his crease and deliberately bowled a huge wide, allowing Mohammad Rizwan to complete the stumping.

England took one wicket with them, Saim Ayub off Leach, but they could not stop the hosts’ sprint to victory.

In just six deliveries at the end, Masood hit four fours and the match-winning six to complete the win in emphatic style.