Pakistan secured a 2-1 series victory against England in the three-match Test series after a decisive win in Rawalpindi on Saturday.
On the third day, Pakistan set a modest target of 36 runs for England, which they chased down with the loss of only one wicket, sealing the final Test of the series.
Earlier, spinners Noman Ali and Sajid Khan delivered an impressive bowling performance, taking all ten wickets and dismissing England for 112. Noman took 6-42, while Sajid claimed 4-69, dismantling England’s batting line-up in just 37.2 overs. England, who had resumed the day at 24-3, quickly found themselves in trouble, with only Joe Root offering resistance with a top score of 33.
This victory marks Pakistan’s first home Test series win since they defeated South Africa in February 2021. Noman and Sajid, both brought in after England’s convincing first-Test win in Multan, combined for 39 wickets across the last two matches, flipping the series in Pakistan’s favor.
England’s fate was sealed when Noman removed Harry Brook for 26 and dismissed skipper Ben Stokes leg-before for three. Stokes’ unusual dismissal came as he left a delivery, expecting it to miss the stumps, only for it to hit him plumb in front. Jamie Smith was bowled by Sajid for three, attempting an ambitious shot that missed.
Noman earned his sixth five-wicket haul when he dismissed Root with a turning delivery to Mohammad Rizwan. The innings ended with Sajid dismissing Rehan Ahmed and Noman taking the final wicket of Jack Leach for ten, concluding a strong series comeback for Pakistan.
