Yasir Shah leaves England in a spin

Barnaby Read 13:39 05/11/2015
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  • Shah (c) was superb on day five.

    Pakistan romped to a 2-0 series win in Sharjah on the final day of the third Test thanks to a convincing 127 run victory as England crumbled at the hands of the host’s spinners with alarming ease.

    Needing the final eight England wickets for victory at the start of the final day, Pakistan made light work of the task as Yasir Shah (4-44), Zulfiqar Babar (2-31) and Shoaib Malik (3-26) led their team to a fourth Test win on this ground.

    It was Shah who was the pack leader, taking all four of his wickets in the session and a bit that was played, England blown away just 6.4 overs after lunch.

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    Needing a further 238 runs for victory, England’s hopes largely rested on the shoulders of overnight batsmen, and serious series run-makers, Alastair Cook and Joe Root.

    Those hopes were quickly dashed, Root succumbing lbw to Shah just 1.4 overs into the final morning session of the series.

    Things got significantly worse for England in rapid fashion, as Shah combined with Zulfiqar Babar to end any slim chance of an England victory.

    Shoaib Malik’s off-spin also played a pivotal role as Misbah-ul-Haq’s men dazzled England with their spinners.

    The floodgates opened with Root’s wicket, England losing four wickets for 13 runs in just 6.4 overs as Cook watched first James Taylor, then Jonny Bairstow and Samit Patel leave him stranded looking for a partner up for a fight.

    It left England 59-6, still 225 runs adrift of Pakistan and staring down the barrel of an ignominious end to a series that could have gone so differently.

    The visitors leave the UAE with just a draw in Abu Dhabi to show for their efforts, extending their record here to five losses from six Tests.

    Bad light denied them victory in the UAE capital, while their day three collapse in Dubai signalled an end to their chances of an historic series win.

    Pakistan remain unbeaten in the Emirates and, despite the series being even for large parts, the hosts deserve their win.

    In the heat of battle Pakistan have simply stood up and been counted, England choosing to wilt rather than bloom in those situations.

    Adil Rashid – as he did in Dubai – provided some resistance, allying himself with Cook and making run making look far easier than the specialists above him in the order.

    He and Cook looked to be taking England to lunch without further loss until Rashid was bowled by Rahat Ali just ten minutes prior to the interval.

    It ended a partnership worth 49 for the seventh wicket but their best efforts to salvage something from a painful session of cricket for England went in vain.

    They were 120-7 at the break, attempting to delay the inevitable as Pakistan prowled.

    And the hosts didn’t have to wait long for another breakthrough, Stuart Broad’s spritely innings of 20 ended by Shah after the England man swept him straight to Shoaib Malik at square-leg.

    A grimacing Ben Stokes was next to the crease, batting for the second time in this match despite the obvious pain in his right shoulder as a result of the injury he suffered on day one of this Test.

    He was not required to put too much further strain on the injury, however, Cook’s valiant innings coming to an end after being stumped by Sarfraz Ahmed off Malik before Stokes succumbed in the same fashion off Shah.

    It was another exhibition in how to bat in the sub-continent by Cook and had his teammates applied themselves with such control and class as he, England may well have been contemplating a dramatic win.

    It was not to be though, and Pakistan move to second place in the ICC Test rankings on the back of the win.

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