England in Pakistan: Noman Ali and Sajid Khan give hosts 2-1 series win

England suffered a weak defeat before lunch on the third day of the final Test in Rawalpindi, giving a resurgent Pakistan a 2-1 series win.

The tourists were again thwarted by Noman Ali and Sajid Khan and the total number of tourists rose to 112, the lowest ever in Pakistan.

With the score 24–3 overnight, Harry Brooke and Joe Root started strongly, but Brooke’s lead over Noman marked the beginning of England’s seven-wicket capitulation for 46 runs.

Ben Stokes’ brain faded as he didn’t play a single over and found himself lbw to Noman, and then Jamie Smith’s savage attack on Sajid was particularly ugly. Root’s departure in the 33rd game, bowling Noman, ended England’s faint hopes.

The emergence of Noman and Sajid after Pakistan lost the first Test changed the complexion of the series and they again shared all 10 wickets. Left-arm spinner Noman finished with 6-42 and Sajid with 4-69.

The result left Pakistan just 36 runs short, a win by nine wickets that secured their first home series win in nearly four years. This turn proved the strategy of drying up the pitches right, revealing the talent of Sajid and Noman.

There was no repeat of the series win for England two years ago. Instead, a third Test defeat in four matches and seventh overall in 2024 ended with defeat in only the second series under Stokes’ captaincy.

Their next Test series faces a short turn in New Zealand in late November, while an almost entirely different line-up begins the white-ball series in the West Indies next week.