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

England suffered a weak defeat before lunch on the third day of the final Test in Rawalpindi to give resurgent Pakistan a 2-1 series victory.

The tourists were again analyzed by Noman Ali and Sajid Khan, reaching a total of 112, the lowest total ever recorded in Pakistan.

From 24-3 overnight, Harry Brook and Joe Root started confidently, only for Brook’s lead over Noman to start an England capitulation of seven wickets for 46 runs.

Ben Stokes’ brain fade to play no shot and be lbw for Noman, followed by Jamie Smith’s savage charge on Sajid were particularly ugly. Root’s outing for 33, beating Noman, ended England’s slim hopes.

The introduction of Noman and Sajid after Pakistan lost the first Test changed the tone of the series and they once again shared the 10 wickets. Left-armer Noman finished with 6-42 and Sajid 4-69.

It left Pakistan with a target of just 36, a nine-wicket victory that secured their first home series win in almost four years. The change vindicated a shift in the strategy to dry out the pitches, unleashing the brilliance of Sajid and Noman.

For England, there was no repeat of the series victory here two years ago. Instead, a third Test defeat in four matches and seventh overall in 2024 sealed only a second series defeat under Stokes’ captaincy.

There is a brief change to their next Test series, in New Zealand at the end of November, while an almost completely different team begins a white-ball series in the West Indies next week.