Pakistan bulldozed England in the third Test while creating history

Pakistan posted a chapter in the history books while lambasting England in the third Test by 71 runs and whitewashed the three match series 3-0. It was first time in the history of Pakistan when they humiliated England by winning the all three Tests. They became the only team in the entire Test history to win the match after being bowled out on less than hundred runs in their first innings.

Umar Gul took 4 wickets
Umar Gul took 4 wickets

Pakistani batting faced shame in the first innings while being bowled out for 99 runs, England was unable to utilize the favourable conditions and surrendered for 141 runs. The visitors earned a first innings lead of 42 runs but Pakistani batsmen came at their own and smashed 365 runs in their second innings, well led by the tons from Azhar Ali and Younis Khan. The rival team gave a fight back in the second innings but saw the path towards pavilion for 252 runs.

Azhar Ali was declared ‘Player of the match’ for his match winning and career best knock of 157 runs.

The match was won on the fourth day at Dubai International Cricket Stadium, on February 6, 2012.

Earlier England initiated the fourth day for 36 runs in 20 overs without any loss, Andrew Strauss and Alastair Cook were at the crease with unbeaten 19 and 15. They were required to score another 288 runs but most importantly they had all their second inning wickets in hand.

England started off cautiously and Strauss got a life at 26 runs on the third ball of the fifth 25th over by the wicket keeper Adnan Akmal off Umar Gul. He was unable to utilize the chance and was declared leg before wicket off Saeed Ajmal even after referral at the same score in the very next over. The poor ground fielding of Pakistan continued when Cook was dropped on the last ball of the 34th over at deep backward square leg off Abdur Rehman at 28 runs.

The deadly duo of Rehman and Saeed Ajmal continued with the attack and English batsmen found it hard to negotiate. Jonathan Trott was the second batsman who lost his wicket for 18 runs, caught by Rehman off Ajmal at the total of 85 runs. Kevin Pietersen came in next and joined with Cook who was securing one end at his best.

Pietersen opted for attack and dispatched Reman for 10 runs which included a six and four. He was shocked when a ball from Ajmal went through his bat and pad while uprooting his stumps for 18 runs. The third wicket fell at 116 runs and Cook followed him after the addition of three runs once he was caught smartly in the slips by Younis for 49 runs.

Umar Gul ripped through the middle order of England by taking the next four wickets as Eoin Morgan showed some resistance by scoring 31 runs. Matt Prior witnessed the disaster of his side from one end and remained unbeaten with 49 runs as the whole side was bundled out for 252 runs in 97.3 overs.

Gul and Ajmal were the star performers with four wickets each and Rehman claimed two wickets.

Pakistan triumphed with a margin of 71 runs in the encounter and the series was clinched 3-0 from the current world no.1 side.


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