Mark Wood’s match-winning fast bowling performance on a tense fourth day in bustling Multan helped England secure a series victory with a match to spare over their Pakistani opponents, creating history in the process.
Ben Stokes and his tourists claimed an unassailable 2-0 lead before the third Test in Karachi by defending a target of 355 runs. This is only the third series victory for England in Pakistan and the first in 22 years. Wood’s four for 65 broke a spirited chase from the home side for a memorable 26-run victory.
Ollie Robinson secured the victory fifteen minutes after lunch, with Mohammad Ali slipping behind for a duck to dismiss Pakistan for 328. Naturally, there was a check upstairs, but the tourists had little doubt as they proceeded to celebrate a brilliantly handled campaign.
Wood captured three wickets on either side of the break, including the crucial removal of Saud Shakeel for 94, and performed a performance reminiscent of Shoaib Akhtar’s explosion on this field during England’s last visit to Pakistan, 17 years ago.
The joyous emotions were in stark contrast to the tense morning session during which Saud chipped away at the aim. Before the left-shocking hander’s ejection just before noon – one of Wood’s two crucial breakthroughs before the break – the home team had established itself as the favorite.
Joe Root took his 50th Test wicket in the sixth over of the day as he found the edge of Faheem Ashraf’s bat and Zak Crawley made an outstanding catch at slip. Pakistan was 210 for five, 145 runs away from victory, and desperately needed to create a substantial partnership.
And one did, with Saud and Mohammad Nawaz producing 21 overs and 80 runs of defiance, with the former continuing to cautiously score runs while the latter assumed the role of aggressor.
The goal was cut to double digits when Nawaz attacked Robinson and smashed the second new ball past cover for the first boundary the England seamer had surrendered all game.
As a result of the pair’s command, England suddenly appeared lacking in creativity. Stokes went to Wood, positioned the field for a bouncer strategy, and his fast bowler stormed in. Wood finally dismissed Nawaz for an impudent 45 when the all-rounder gloved to Pope on the leg side. This was an inspired play by the England captain.
The same could hardly be said for Wood’s subsequent removal of Saud in the following over, six runs short of what would have been a well-deserved maiden Test century.
It was a similar ball, aimed into the armpit of the left-hander as he flicked behind, but there was enough question as to whether Pope’s low catch was clean for the umpires, Marais Eramus and Aleem Dar, to request a soft ‘out’ signal.
Joel Wilson in the third-base umpire’s box was satisfied despite a few frames that revealed a tiny drag of a ball along the ground, and Saud was ejected.
It left Pakistan 291 for seven at lunch, needing 64 runs to win, and despite Abrar Ahmed smashing four fours following the restart, he was unable to prevent England from making history.
