LONDON, (Reuters) – Leg-spinner Yasir Shah took five wickets to help Pakistan crush England by 10 wickets in the final test at The Oval yesterday and level a fluctuating series 2-2.
The touring side bowled England out for 253 in their second innings, Shah completing figures of 5-71, before Azhar Ali and Sami Aslam eased them to a simple target of 40 in 13.1 overs to complete an emphatic win.
“It was special, keeping in mind it was Independence Day, it was something special to draw the series here after being 2-1 down, losing the second test badly and losing the third,” Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq told the BBC.
“But the way the team fought back, I’m a really happy captain.”
England had resumed on 88 for four and Gary Ballance soon fell for 17 but Jonny Bairstow and Moeen Ali shared a sixth-wicket partnership of 65 to give the hosts hoping of saving the match.
Shortly before lunch, however, Shah deceived Moeen with a quicker delivery and the left-hander, on 32, nicked another catch to a gleeful Sarfraz.
Chris Woakes was run out following a mix-up with Bairstow, who drove the next delivery from Wahab Riaz straight to extra cover, his departure for 81 ending any realistic chance of England saving the match.
Stuart Broad reverse swept Shah straight to Younus Khan at slip and after Steven Finn and James Anderson shared a defiant last-wicket partnership of 32, Anderson was trapped lbw by part-time off-spinner Iftikhar Ahmed for 17.
Azhar smashed Moeen for a huge six to take Pakistan to 42-0 and clinch victory, punching the air in delight before leaving the field with Aslam to warm applause from the sun-baked crowd.
Scoreboard
England 1st innings 328
(M. Ali 108, J. Bairstow 55; S. Khan 5-68)
Pakistan 1st innings 542
(Y. Khan 218, A. Shafiq 109)
England 2nd innings
(Overnight: 88-4)
A. Cook c I. Ahmed b Riaz 7
A. Hales lbw b Shah 12
J. Root lbw b Shah 39
J. Vince c Misbah-ul-Haq b Shah 0
G. Ballance c S. Ahmed b So. Khan 17
J. Bairstow c Az. Ali b Riaz 81
M. Ali c S. Ahmed b Shah 32
C. Woakes run out (, Riaz) 4
S. Broad c Y. Khan b Shah 5
S. Finn not out 16
J. Anderson lbw b I. Ahmed 17
Extras (b-8 lb-10 nb-5) 23
Total (all out, 79.2 overs) 253
Fall of wickets: 1-14 A. Cook,2-49 A. Hales,3-55 J. Vince,4-74 J. Root,5-128 G. Ballance,6-193 M. Ali,7-209 C. Woakes,8-209 J. Bairstow,9-221 S. Broad,10-253 J. Anderson Bowling M. Amir 21.4 – 7 – 65 – 0 So. Khan 15 – 2 – 50 – 1 W. Riaz 11.2 – 1 – 48 – 2(nb-5) Y. Shah 29 – 4 – 71 – 5 I. Ahmed 2.2 – 1 – 1 – 1
Pakistan 2nd innings (Target: 40 runs)
S. Aslam not out 12
Az. Ali not out 30
Extras 0
Total (for no loss, 13.1 overs) 42
Fall of wickets:
Did not bat: I. Ahmed, Y. Khan, Misbah-ul-Haq, A. Shafiq, S. Ahmed, M. Amir, W. Riaz, Y. Shah, S. Khan Bowling C. Woakes 4 – 0 – 11 – 0 S. Finn 0.2 – 0 – 0 – 0 M. Ali 5.5 – 0 – 30 – 0 J. Root 3 – 2 – 1 – 0 Referees Umpire: Marais Erasmus
Umpire: Bruce Oxenford
TV umpire: Joel Wilson
Match referee: Richie Richardson Result: Pakistan won by 10 wickets
