Pakistan batsman Saud Shakeel performs a shot throughout the third Check in opposition to England in Rawalpindi on October 25, 2024.
| Picture Credit score: Getty Photos
Spinners Sajid Khan and Noman Ali left England reeling at 24-3 after Saud Shakeel’s combating hundred put Pakistan in command of the series-deciding third Check in Rawalpindi on Friday (October 25, 2024).
England got here in seeking to erase a deficit of 77 however had no solutions for the Pakistan spinners on a turning pitch.
Sajid dismissed Ben Duckett for 12 and Noman Ali eliminated Zak Crawley (two) and Ollie Pope (one) within the area of 5 runs.
When dangerous gentle ended the second day’s play with 5 overs remaining, Joe Root and Harry Brook had been on the crease on 5 and three respectively.
England nonetheless want 53 runs to keep away from an innings defeat with seven wickets in hand and three days left to play.
The collection is tied at 1-1 after England received the primary Check by an innings and 47 runs whereas Pakistan took the second by 152 runs, each in Multan.
On one other day dominated by spin, Shakeel’s sensible 134 was the spotlight, pulling Pakistan inside touching distance of a primary dwelling Check collection win since they defeated South Africa in February 2021.
Shakeel anchored Pakistan’s innings, lifting them from a precarious 177-7 to 344 all out.
“We had an concept that this pitch will assist spinners so with that in thoughts I ready myself,” mentioned Shakeel, admitting it was considered one of his greatest knocks.
The left-hander held Pakistan’s innings along with a gritty knock unfold over 322 minutes and 223 balls, hitting simply 5 boundaries.
“100 is 100 and it’s one of the best feeling and now we’re in one of the best stage of the match.”
However leg-spinner Rehan Ahmed, who was the choose of the England bowlers, mentioned his staff had loads of combat left.
“I feel we’re nonetheless fairly constructive with a lot batting to return so we’re nonetheless very constructive within the altering room come tomorrow,” he mentioned.
Ahmed took 4-66 whereas off-spinner Shoaib Bashir completed with 3-129.
Defiant Shakeel
The 29-year-old Shakeel defied England with an eighth wicket stand of 88 alongside Noman who made 45 earlier than falling within the ultimate over forward of the tea break to spinner Bashir.
Shakeel added one other 72 for the ninth wicket with Sajid who scored an unbeaten career-best 48.
Shakeel was lastly caught off a miscued pull off pacer Gus Atkinson whereas Ahmed dismissed the final man Zahid Mahmood for nought.
The guests in management when younger spinner Ahmed bagged three fast wickets to depart Pakistan teetering on the finish of the primary session.
England had been eyeing a lead after Ahmed’s burst left Pakistan on 187-7 at lunch however the Shakeel-Noman stand turned these expectations into frustration.
Shakeel batted with composure and reached his fourth Check hundred with a single off Rehan in a resistance-packed innings.
Noman — surviving a leg-before resolution on overview and a dropped catch off Root — assisted Shakeel admirably, hitting a six and two fours because the duo helped Pakistan add 80 within the second session.
Rehan despatched Mohammad Rizwan (25), Salman Agha (one) and Aamer Jamal (14) again to the pavilion and threatened to derail Pakistan.
England’s frontline spinners Jack Leach and Bashir couldn’t extract the identical sharp flip from the pitch as rival Sajid Khan, who took 6-128 on Thursday.
Pakistan resumed the day at 73-3 seeking a sizeable result in press for a collection win.
However Shakeel was the one prime=order batter capable of construct a significant innings after reaching double figures.
Printed – October 25, 2024 07:39 pm IST
