England have lost the three-match series in Pakistan 2-1 after the hosts recorded a thumping victory in the third and final Test in Rawalpindi
England have lost their Test series in Pakistan 2-1 after a humbling nine-wicket defeat in Rawalpindi.
Spin twins Sajid Khan and Noman Ali took all 10 wickets as Ben Stokes’ side were knocked over for just 112 in their second innings. It was the first time in Test history Pakistan completed a Test match without bowling a single over of pace.
Skipper Shan Masood cracked 23 off just six balls as the hosts raced to their modest target of 36 to record victory. England started the series well by winning the first Test, but successive defeats now leaves a lot of question marks ahead of a series in New Zealand.
The manner in which Pakistan have artificially aged the last two pitches with fans, heaters and perhaps even rakes has raised eyebrows but back-to-back thrashings against a side who had not won a home Test, let alone a series, since early 2021 still represents a significant setback.
Khan and Ali remarkably took 39 out of 40 England wickets since their recalls ahead of the second Test, with only a solitary scalp from Zahid Mahmood spoiled their prospects of a full house.
Yet England were manifestly not up to task, with skipper Ben Stokes aptly ending his innings on his knees after being trapped lbw offering no stroke.
Only Yorkshire duo Joe Root and Harry Brook passed 20 in England’s second innings, with Ollie Pope and Zak Crawley continuing their bad runs of form with the bat.
England now do not return to the subcontinent until February 2027 for a tour of Bangladesh having been demolished 4-1 by India on their previous visit before this latest series defeat.
The white-ball side now head to the Caribbean for both ODI and T20 series against the West Indies before three Tests in New Zealand before Christmas.
