Rawalpindi, October 25, 2024 – Pakistan ended the second day of the third and final Test match against England at Pindi Cricket Stadium in an unassailable position, edging close to clinching the series.
At the heart of Pakistan’s dominant position was Saud Shakeel, whose composed century guided Pakistan from near chaos to control, a feat England now faces an uphill battle to overcome.
Saud’s impressive 134 runs, meticulously crafted across a series of partnerships with Pakistan’s lower order, especially spin specialists Noman Ali and Sajid Khan, lifted Pakistan to a first-innings total of 344, gaining a vital 77-run lead. In a decisive turn, England, left with nine overs to weather before stumps, stumbled to 24 for three, trailing by 53, with Noman and Sajid wreaking havoc among the English batters.
Saud’s resilience underscored his prowess against spin. With a Test average of 87.8 against slower deliveries and nearly flawless patience, he exploited England’s vulnerabilities, collecting runs with deft singles guided into gaps. His only close call came early when he edged Bashir toward the keeper, the deflection just eluding Jamie Smith’s gloves. It was not until 59 overs later, just one ball shy of reaching 86 more runs, that he faced another potential dismissal on an umpire’s call for lbw.
Saud’s innings provided a blueprint for success on this challenging surface, as England struggled to replicate his stability. The visitors’ top order faltered against Sajid and Noman, with Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley trapped lbw in a disastrous sequence. A visibly off-form Ollie Pope soon followed, caught at slip with a mere single, closing a demoralizing day for England.
Earlier in the day, Saud partnered with Shan Masood and Mohammad Rizwan, weathering a tense morning session as Pakistan slipped to 177 for seven. At that point, with England in control, the arrival of Noman Ali at No. 9 shifted momentum. Noman and Saud posted a resilient 88-run partnership, sparking a Pakistan resurgence that left England floundering.
As Pakistan’s innings stretched, England’s bowlers struggled, offering gaps in an effort to stem boundaries, which Saud and Noman turned to their advantage, expertly manipulating singles. Noman occasionally swung for boundaries, launching Rehan over long-on for six, though singles largely anchored the innings.
Noman fell in the over before tea, leveling scores, and Sajid Khan entered, injecting fresh intensity. With a ferocious six off his ninth ball, Sajid accelerated the game, scoring 43 runs in three overs. This display of calculated aggression visibly shook England, who, already faltering, saw their confidence dwindle further.
Saud eventually miscued a shot to short midwicket, concluding a remarkable innings, with Pakistan’s tail establishing partnerships that have plagued England throughout this series. England now finds themselves on the brink of a humbling series defeat, undone repeatedly by Pakistan’s resilience and tenacity at the tail end of each innings.