Skip to Content. Skip to Navigation.

News

 
 

Spinners win it for Pakistan

01/28/2012 07:57:20 PM

England stumbled to their lowest-ever Test total against Pakistan on Saturday, losing by 72 runs and surrendering the series in Abu Dhabi.

The tourists were bowled out for 72 in their second innings of the second Test, as Abdur Rehman (6-25) and Saeed Ajmal (3-22) spun Pakistan to a resounding victory at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium, taking an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.

Captain Andrew Strauss (32) and wicketkeeper Matt Prior (18) were the only two English batsmen to get starts in their innings, which lasted just 36.1 overs.

Pakistan began day four 55 runs in front with six wickets in hand, and batsmen Asad Shafiq and Azhar Ali put on another 17 runs to reach an 88-run partnership, before Shafiq (43) was dismissed by spinner Monty Panesar (6-62).

Ali was the mainstay of the Pakistani innings, reaching a well-constructed 68 off 195 balls, while handy tail contributions from Rehman (10), Ajmal (17), Umar Gul (10) - as well as wicketkeeper Adnan Akmal's 13 - boosted the hosts' lead to 144.

England would have been considered favourite at the innings break, and even more so when they were 0-21 in the 15th over, before Alastair Cook (seven) was caught-and-bowled by Mohammad Hafeez to open the floodgates.

The tourists lost all 10 wickets for just 51 runs in an extraordinary collapse, as spinners Rehman and Ajmal did the rest.

All bar one of Rehman's wickets were bowled or lbw, and he proceeded to pick up multiple two-wicket overs as he swung the momentum into Pakistan's favour.

The third Test - now a dead rubber - begins on Friday in Dubai.

 
Photograph Copyright : Getty Images

Related Items

 
 

You Might Also Like

 
 
Proteas claim last-ball thriller
Proteas claim last-ball thriller
Cricket
South Africa have won the Twenty20 series in New Zealand after the hosts failed to capitalise on a great position and lost by three runs.
 
 
 
 

Most Read Articles

 
 
NRL change finals system
NRL change finals system
League
Rugby league's controversial McIntyre finals system is dead and buried.
 
 
 
 

Fantasy IPL: Best Players

 
 

Your Say

 
 

Our Say

 
 
Ponting feels clinical cut
Ponting feels clinical cut
Bren O'Brien
Seven days ago Ricky Ponting was adjudged the best player available to lead Australia in ...more
Opportunity knocks for Sri Lanka
Opportunity knocks for Sri Lanka
Liam Daly
Sri Lanka will be looking to bump the Indians into third place on the Commonwealth Bank ...more