RAWALPINDI: Pakistan achieved a long-awaited series victory in impressive fashion, defeating England with ease as Noman Ali and Sajid Khan showcased a dominant spin performance, securing a nine-wicket win in the third and final Test on Saturday.
The spin duo, Noman and Sajid, claimed all 10 England wickets to bowl out the visitors for 112, leading Pakistan to a swift win before lunch on day three in Rawalpindi.
Noman, 38, and Sajid, 31, had previously claimed all 20 wickets on the same pitch during the second Test to level the series and repeated their brilliance, sharing 19 wickets on a dry, spin-friendly surface.
Captain Shan Masood wrapped up the victory with five boundaries in six balls, including a six off Shoaib Bashir, clinching Pakistan’s first home Test series win since their triumph over South Africa in February 2021.
Many had doubts about Pakistan’s ability to rebound after their recent 2-0 series loss to Bangladesh at home. England’s early series lead, with an innings victory in Multan, seemed to confirm those doubts.
Pakistan’s selectors made bold changes, benching star players Babar Azam, Naseem Shah, and Shaheen Afridi to prioritize spin, which proved decisive. This win also served as a redemption for Pakistan after their 3-0 series loss to England two years ago.
Reflecting on the win, Shan Masood said, “This group, management, the board, what they have been through in the past few weeks — that means a lot. This victory and series win mean so much. It’s about character, and it’s especially meaningful for our fans in Pakistan who’ve faced a lot recently. We hope this brings some joy and full stadiums for future games.”
For England, it’s time to reassess. Their aggressive approach appeared one-dimensional against Pakistan’s potent spin attack, with only Joe Root and Jamie Smith showing any resistance against the turning ball.
Disappointed England captain Ben Stokes remarked, “We faced some tough challenges in the last two games, and credit to Pakistan for the win. We have a quick turnaround to our next challenge in New Zealand, so we’ll have to move forward.”
England’s struggles against spin were evident, losing seven wickets in the morning session alone. Noman followed his first innings three-wicket haul with 6-42, supported by Sajid’s 4-69. England’s batting collapsed in 37.2 overs, their lowest score in Pakistan since 1987.
Resuming at 24-3, England’s middle order crumbled as Brook (26), Stokes (3), and Jamie Smith (3) departed quickly. Noman and Sajid’s relentless spin attack dismantled the tail, with Noman sealing the innings by stumping Jack Leach.
After a brief setback with Saim Ayub’s dismissal for eight, Shan Masood’s 23 off six balls secured the series win for Pakistan.
Scoreboard Summary
England: 1st Innings – 267 (Smith 89, Duckett 52; Sajid 6-128, Noman 3-88)
Pakistan: 1st Innings – 344 (Shakeel 134; Ahmed 4-66, Bashir 3-129)
England: 2nd Innings – 112 all out (Noman 6-42, Sajid 4-69)
Pakistan: 2nd Innings – 37-1 (Shan Masood 23*)
Result: Pakistan won by nine wickets, taking the series 2-1.
Man of the Match: Saud Shakeel
Man of the Series: Sajid Khan
