RAWALPINDI, Oct 26: Pakistan delivered a resounding victory over England before lunch on the third day of the final Test match at Rawalpindi’s Pindi Cricket Stadium. In an impressive display of spin bowling, Sajid Khan and Noman Ali dismantled England’s batting lineup, leading Pakistan to a nine-wicket win and securing a 2-1 triumph in the three-match series.
With Shan Masood at the helm, Pakistan chased down the modest 36-run target in just 19 balls, clinching their first home Test series win since February 2021 and their first series victory over England on home soil since 2015. After England’s Jack Leach removed Saim Ayub for eight, Shan stepped up with four consecutive boundaries, and a closing six sealed his second win as Test captain.
England, starting the day at 24-3, could only manage 112 runs in 37.2 overs, setting Pakistan a mere 36 to win. Noman Ali and Sajid Khan took charge once again, with Noman taking 6-42 and Sajid 4-69. Sajid’s match total of 10-197 marked him as the first spinner—and only the third player overall—to claim a ten-wicket haul at this venue.
Noman opened the day’s bowling success by dismissing Harry Brook for 26, then trapping Ben Stokes leg-before for just three. England’s top scorer in the innings, Joe Root, held on with 33 runs but found no support as wickets continued to tumble. Jamie Smith, bowled by Sajid, and Root, eventually dismissed by Noman, added little resistance.
England’s last three wickets, including brief efforts by Gus Atkinson and Jack Leach, contributed just 27 runs before the team was bowled out. Pakistan’s spinners sent down nearly all of the overs, maintaining relentless pressure on England.
Saud Shakeel earned the Player of the Match honor for his first-innings century, while Sajid Khan was awarded Player of the Series for his outstanding 19 wickets across the two games.
Match Summary
Day 3 of 5 – Pakistan defeated England by nine wickets
England: 267 all out, 68.2 overs (Jamie Smith 89, Ben Duckett 52, Gus Atkinson 39, Zak Crawley 29; Sajid Khan 6-128, Noman Ali 3-88, Zahid Mehmood 1-44) & 112 all out, 37.2 overs (Joe Root 33, Harry Brook 26; Noman Ali 6-42, Sajid Khan 4-69)
Pakistan: 344 all out, 96.4 overs (Saud Shakeel 134, Sajid Khan 48, Noman Ali 45, Shan Masood 26; Rehan Ahmed 4-66, Shoaib Bashir 3-129, Gus Atkinson 2-22) & 37-1, 3.1 overs (Shan Masood 23; Jack Leach 1-27)
Player of the Match: Saud Shakeel (Pakistan)
Player of the Series: Sajid Khan (Pakistan)
