Pak vs Eng, 3rd Test, Dubai(2012) : Result : Pakistan won by 71 runs
Pakistan won the series 3-0
England whitewashed by Pakistan inside four days
Man of the Match (MOM) : Azhar Ali
Man of the Series (MOS) : Saeed Ajmal
It took all of four days for Pakistan to humiliate the top ranked side in the world in Dubai and complete a series whitewash.
Playing their “home series” in the UAE, the heavyweights from the sub-continent, defeated England by 71 runs to win the third and final Test of the series. This was after Pakistan got off to a dreadful start in the Test, folding out for just 99 in their first innings. But the bowlers, as they have throughout the series, once again brought them back into the game dismissing England for just 142 in their first hit with the bat and therefore ensuring the visitors didn’t manage a sizeable lead.
England entered the fourth day with 36 on the board and all ten wickets in tact chasing an improbable 324 to avoid a series whitewash. The openers batted out the first five overs without losing a wicket before captain Andrew Strauss perished for 26; he was trapped in front by Abdur Rehman. Thereafter the visitors followed a cautious first approach; the emphasis being on survival rather than scoring runs. The strategy didn’t pay off for long as Trott, after a 37 run partnership with Cook, was scalped by Ajmal for 18.
All the English batsmen got off to a start but none managed to capitalise and get that big one which they so badly needed.
As many as six English batsmen fell to the spinner’s; highlighting once again their incompetency in using their feet against quality spin. With tours to srilanka and India coming up, England will seriously have to master the artof facing up to the spinners if they have to avoid another dubbing.
Pakistan once again showed why they are a team that can never be discounted. The graver the situations the better they emerge as a team. Led astutely by Misbah-ul-Haq, Pakistan were a cohesive unit throughout the series. Twice in the series they were literally in the dumps but showing nerves of steel and unleashing their gifted talent they managed to claw back into the game each time.
Despite dropping a few catches they didn’t let the visitors make merry and kept the pressure right throughout. Gul(4/61), Ajmal(4/67) and Rehman(2/97) were probing with their line and length and as they have displayed throughout the series, they were very tough to get away.
In the glory, Pakistan would do well to notice the areas they need to focus on to compete abroad. A more accomplished new ball bowler to partner Gul and a consistent batting order would do no harm to the already very talented Pakistan team.
Azhar Ali was awarded the man of the match for his marathon knock of 157 while Saeed Ajmal was rightfully picked as the player of the series.
Mini-scorecard
Pakistan 99 (Broad 4-36) and 365 (Azhar 157, Panesar 5-124) beat England 141 (Strauss 56, Rehman 5-40) and 252 (Prior 49*, Gul 4-61, Ajmal 4-67) by 71 runs
Pakistan 99 (Broad 4-36) and 365 (Azhar 157, Panesar 5-124) beat England 141 (Strauss 56, Rehman 5-40) and 252 (Prior 49*, Gul 4-61, Ajmal 4-67) by 71 runs
