England have crashed to the worst result of the Bazball era in Rawalpindi, losing the deciding Test to Pakistan by nine wickets after a dismal collapse on the third morning. It is the first time in their history they have lost a three-match series from 1-0 up.
Already up against it after slipping to 24 for three on the second evening, still 53 behind, they added 42 relatively untroubled runs before suffering a string of brainfades against Noman Ali and Sajid Khan.
Harry Brook began the slide, trying to fiddle to third man a quicker delivery from Noman that was too close to him, and too straight for the shot. Mohammad Rizwan held the edge, leaving Brook with scores of 9, 16, 5 and now 26 since his triple-century in the first Test at Multan.
Ben Stokes was next to go, for three, inexplicably offering no shot to a straight one from Noman, and offering Chris Gaffaney little choice but to raise his finger. A review would not have saved him.
Stokes has cut an unusually diminished figure in this game: all at sea with the bat, non-existent with the ball, curiously insipid in the field. Since he missed England’s win in the first Test, his record in Asia this year is not a happy sight: six defeats out of seven, 252 runs at 18, and one lone wicket.
England crashed to the worst defeat of the Bazball era after a humbling in Rawalpindi in the final Test
Ben Stokes was a cowed figure across the series as his side threw away a 1-0 series lead
Pakistan moved heaven and earth to create for their spinners and the visitors paid the price
Whatever gains his Bazballers have made in other areas, England are still prone to meltdowns in Asia.
And it was 75 for six when Jamie Smith, whose first-innings 89 appeared to have given England the edge, charged at Sajid Khan and was bowled for three.
With Noman and Sajid irresistible, England staggered into the lead, but did not get a great deal further. Joe Root played forward and feathered a catch behind for 33, giving Noman his fifth wicket of the innings, before Gus Atkinson was bowled through the gate by Sajid for 10.
When Sajid bowled Rehan Ahmed round his legs on the sweep for seven, it was 108 for nine. Sajid’s fourth of the innings was his 10th of the match.
And it was all over when Jack Leach was stumped off Noman for 10, charging at a ball speared too wide of off for him to reach. It was a suitably chaotic end to a miserable innings: 112 is England’s lowest total of the Bazball era.
Since their call-ups for the second Test, Noman and Sajid have tied England in knots, taking 39 wickets between them, and spectacularly vindicating Pakistan’s decision to attack their guests on spinning tracks after their bowlers were pulverised on a flat pitch during the series opener.
Sajid Khan (right) was the character of the Test and turned England’s batters inside-out
Noman Ali was equally irrepressible as England failed to conjure up magic with the bat
Jack Leach’s stumping served up a suitably chaotic end to a torrid tenure in Pakistan
Noman finished with 20 at 13, and Sajid – who quickly became the character of the series, with his villainous moustache and kabbadi celebrations – 19 at 21. They have bowled as brilliantly as England have batted ineptly: the combination meant only one thing.
Needing 36 for victory, Pakistan lost Saim Ayub for eight, lbw to Leach, but Shan Masood belted his first four balls for four, then lifted Shoaib Bashir over long-off for six to seal only Pakistan’s second come-from-behind series victory.
Above all, it was a triumph for adaptability. Having quickly concluded they couldn’t match their opponents on flat pitches, they moved heaven and earth to involve their spinners. And England simply couldn’t cope.
Got a question for Nasser Hussain to answer at the end of the series? Email nasser@dailymail.co.uk to get involved
This article was originally published by a www.dailymail.co.uk . Read the Original article here. .