Pakistan's bowlers sealed an emphatic 71-run win in the third and final
Test against England here on Monday, inflicting a 3-0 humiliation on the
Englishmen. Pakistan won the first Test here by 10 wickets and the
second at Abu Dhabi by 72 runs.
Set a daunting 324-run target, England was bowled out for 252 with
paceman Umar Gul taking four for 61 and off-spinner Saeed Ajmal (four
for 67) to help Pakistan achieve a first-ever Test clean sweep against
its opponent.
Pakistan has become the first team to win a Test after being bowled out
for under 100, since 1907, when England, shot out for 76, beat South
Africa at Leeds.
It was England's seventh series whitewash and its first at the hands of
Pakistan. Pakistan has now recorded five series whitewashes, its last
coming against Bangladesh in 2003. England's last series whitewash came
in 2007 when it was routed by Australia 5-0.
Spinners dominate
So dominating were the Pakistani spinners that Ajmal finished the series with 24 wickets while Abdur Rehman had 19.
With the ball turning, it was always going to be a difficult task for
the England batsmen, who have been unable to read the Pakistan spinners
throughout the series, on a weary fourth day pitch at the Dubai Stadium.
England looked for solid partnerships after resuming at 36 for no loss
but that never transpired. Pakistan could have wrapped the match earlier
had it not dropped two crucial catches, the first off Andrew Strauss on
26 when wicket-keeper Adnan Akmal grassed a simple chance off Gul.
But that didn't hurt Pakistan as Rehman trapped the England captain in
the very next over. Strauss challenged the decision by Australian umpire
Steve Davis but his review failed.
Gul then let off Alastair Cook at 24 when he failed to hold a top-edge sweep off Rehman.
Ajmal then broke a dangerous looking 37-run stand between Cook and
Jonathan Trott (18) by forcing a top-edge sweep which was smartly
snapped up by Rehman at square-leg.
England, 89 for two at lunch, was still in with a chance with Cook (49)
and Kevin Pietersen (18) batting well, but it lost four wickets in the
space of 84 runs. It went to tea at 173 for six.
Pietersen, who struggled for runs in the series, hit Rehman for a
boundary before hoisting him for a six to bring up England's 100. But,
Ajmal struck from the other end.
Peach of a delivery
The off-spinner produced a beautiful delivery to bowl Pietersen through
the gate for 18. He had a mere 67 runs in the series during which he was
out to the spinners on five occasions.
In his next over, Ajmal produced another sharp turning delivery which
caught the edge of Cook's bat and was smartly held by a diving Younis
Khan, the lone slip.
Ian Bell (10) and Eoin Morgan (31) added 37 for the fifth wicket but
again failed to produce a big score in the series as Gul dismissed them
in the space of just three runs.
Pakistan took the second new ball at 196 for six and the first ball saw
Gul dismissing Stuart Broad (18) and then Graeme Swann for one. Matt
Prior was left high and dry on 49.
The teams will now play four ODIs and three T20s.
Scoreboard
Pakistan 99 and 365
England 141
England 2nd innings: (Overnight 36 without loss)
Andrew Strauss lbw b Rehman 26
Alastair Cook c Khan b Ajmal 49
Jonathan Trott c Rehman b Ajmal 18
Kevin Pietersen b Ajmal 18
Ian Bell c Shafiq b Gul 10
Eoin Morgan c Akmal b Gul 31
Matt Prior not out 49
Stuart Broad c Taufeeq b Gul 18
Graeme Swann c Shafiq b Gul 1
James Anderson c Khan b Ajmal 9
Monty Panesar lbw b Rehman 8
Extras- (4b, 8lb, 3nb) 15
TOTAL- (all out) 252
Overs- 97.3.
Fall of wickets- 1—48, 2—85, 3—116, 4—119, 5—156, 6—159, 7—196, 8—203, 9—237
Bowling- Umar Gul 20—5—61—4 (3nb), Aizaz Cheema 4—0—9—0, Mohammad Hafeez 5—2—6—0, Abdur Rehman 41.3—10—97—2, Saeed Ajmal 27—9—67—4.
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