Tweakers shine as Pakistan thump England to win series 2-0

Spin trio of Shoaib Malik, Yasir Shah and Zulfiqar Babar shared nine wickets between them to help Pakistan beat England by a 127 runs in the third and final Test here yesterday

Sharjah: Spin trio of Shoaib Malik, Yasir Shah and Zulfiqar Babar shared nine wickets between them to help Pakistan beat England by a 127 runs in the third and final Test here yesterday.


Pakistan spinners Zulfiqar Babar (left) and Yasir Shah pose with the winner’s trophy at Sharjah yesterday. Pic/AFP

Shah finished with 4-44, Malik — playing his last Test -— took 3-26 and Babar grabbed 2-31 to bundle England out for 156 soon after lunch on the fifth and final day for a 2-0 series win.

England, set 284 to win, were always on the back foot on a turning pitch as only skipper Alastair Cook showed some resistance, scoring 63 with four boundaries. It was Malik who gave Pakistan the prized wicket of Cook, to finish with seven wickets in the match.

The victory lifts Pakistan to an equal highest ever No 2 in the ICC Test rankings, a spot which they previously attained only for a few days in August 2006.

Brief scores
Pakistan 234 & 355 (M Hafeez 151, A Shafiq 46; S Broad 3-44) beat England 306 & 156 (A Cook 63, M Ali 22; Y Shah 4-44, S Malik 3-26) by 127 runs

"Exciting news! Mid-day is now on WhatsApp Channels Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!