Watch cricket video highlights of England tour of Pakistan 2024. Third test between Pakistan and England. Venue of the match will be Rawalpindi.
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This third Test between Pakistan and England has gone as much back and forth in the space of two days, which is unusual. But a gritty century from Saud Shakeel, along with all-around brilliance from Noman Ali and Sajid Khan, propelled the hosts from the gutter to the top of Rawalpindi’s mountains. A first home series victory since 2021 is in sight. Shakeel’s stunning 134 from 223 deliveries, his fourth in Tests, helped Pakistan reach 344 with a crucial first-innings advantage of 77.
That was eventually accomplished owing to crucial lower-order contributions from Noman Ali (45) and Sajid Khan (48 not out) in stands of 88 and 72, respectively, before they returned to their primary duties to run roughshod over England’s top-order once again, leaving them 24 for 3 at the end. The tourists will marvel how the script was so completely twisted on them. It seemed impossible when Shakeel came on Thursday evening at 46 for 3. Or when Rehan Ahmed’s pre-lunch performance of 3 for 24 from eight overs left the hosts on 177 for 7, still 90 adrift.
In his maiden outing of the series, the legspinner dismissed No.11 Zahid Mahmood on the first ball and finished with figures of 4 for 66. Shakeel returned to 16 overnight, bringing both old-world flair and substance. During his vigil, there were just five boundaries, the fourth of which was a hard sweep in front of square, bringing his total to 50 from 92 deliveries. His fifth and final one arrived 108 balls later. It was fitting that he got the distinction of guiding Pakistan to 267 by canceling out England’s first effort with an easy single hit down the ground off the last ball before tea.
He was also the unifying factor, appearing in all four of Pakistan’s half-century stands in the first innings. While the 53 and 54 with Shan Masood and Mohammed Rizwan, respectively, were about consolidation and rebuilding, the collaborations with Noman and Sajid established a new goal. The former did his part to level the score, while the latter unleashed a powerful assault with four sixes and six boundaries, including smashing off-spinner Shoaib Bashir out of the attack as his last over went for 19.
England had gone into lunch in command, exploiting a prolonged first session to reduce Pakistan to 187 for 7, with Rehan claiming three of the four wickets to fall after the restart from 73 for three. This includes trapping Rizwan and Salman Agha leg before in nine deliveries before bowling Aamer Jamal with a drag on off a googly. Shakeel batted through the morning but might have been removed on 26 when Bashir, who had dismissed Shan Masood, got a leading edge past Jamie Smith, who was unable to secure a low catch.
The ball ricocheted off the wicketkeeper’s left shin, demonstrating the difficulty of the opportunity owing to a lack of bounce. Still 80 down after lunch, Shakeel and the very talented Noman went about catching up with England’s first innings. The latter was the primary aggressor, clouting Rehan for six down the ground as the 20-year-old battled to locate the full length that had come so effortlessly in an impressive eight-over period prior to the first break. Perhaps since there were two left-handers, Ben Stokes chose not to utilize the legspinner at the start of the session.
When he did reintroduce Rehan, he did it from the Media End, not the Pavilion End, where he had bowled his previous nine overs. The skipper’s fury was exacerbated when Joe Root, sent in to bowl the 78th over, had his first ball spit out of the rough and take the shoulder of Noman’s bat when the left-hander was 35. Stokes, fielding close in at first slip, got his fingertips on the ball as he dived to the left. Noman had already rectified an LBW dismissal while on 10, and DRS confirmed an inside-edge.
This was the third decision that umpire Sharfuddoula had reversed in this innings. Shakeel followed up with another easy single into the leg side to reach his first century against England and second at this venue. His batting partner and colleagues’ celebrations in the home dressing room were considerably more enthusiastic than his own, since they were well aware that there was still work to be done. Bashir terminated Noman’s stay with the second new ball, which skidded into the No. 9’s pads.
However, he found himself on the receiving end of Sajid’s acceleration at the start of the evening practice, while Shakeel was more than pleased to deliver the hit to the moustachioed whirlwind. Shakeel’s innings was finally cut short as he failed to lift or defend a Gus Atkinson short delivery to sub-fielder Matthew Potts at midwicket. The fact that Atkinson was not utilized sooner was another blemish on Stokes’ captaincy after lunch, and it was strange that he did not switch to his own seam when Pakistan’s lower order was attacking with spin.
When Rehan’s brilliant googly into Mahmood’s stumps brought the innings to a conclusion at 5.20pm, the sunset suggested England didn’t have much time left. However, there was still enough time for three wickets in 28 deliveries for a mere five runs. Ben Duckett, the most proactive player against spin, was trapped LBW on the rear leg by Sajid, requiring a DRS review. Noman then trapped Crawley with an arm ball, the fourth time the left-armer has bagged the opener in as many innings.
Before Ollie Pope ended a dreadful series with low hands providing a catch to slip, via a deflection off Rizwan’s gloves, for Noman’s second of the innings. The deficit is 53, and England hopes Root and Harry Brook can make amends on day three. These two combined for 454 in the first Multan Test. However, as anyone interested with Pakistan cricket can tell you, a lot can happen in two weeks.
