In a display of sheer brilliance, Pakistan’s spinners clinched a landmark Test series victory over England, triumphing 2-1 after a dominant nine-wicket win in the final match in Rawalpindi.
Building on their stellar performance in Multan, Noman Ali and Sajid Khan’s mesmerizing bowling powered Pakistan to its first home series win since 2021 and its first series victory over England since 2015.
After suffering a heavy innings-and-47-run defeat in the series opener, Pakistan rebounded with relentless spin bowling, elevating them to seventh place on the ICC World Test Championship 2025 standings, just behind England at sixth. The Pakistan duo accounted for nine English wickets in the first innings, with Sajid Khan snaring an impressive 6 for 128 — his third five-wicket haul in Test cricket — while Noman Ali’s tidy 3 for 88 included the vital breakthroughs at the top order.
Opting to bat first, England’s opening stand showed some promise but faltered as the day progressed. Contributions from Jamie Smith (89) and Gus Atkinson (39) gave England’s score a modest lift, yet they managed only 267 runs, a total far below expectations. In response, Pakistan’s batting lineup, which had shown signs of inconsistency, was galvanized by Saud Shakeel’s magnificent 134, which carved out a crucial 77-run lead for the hosts.
When England returned to bat, Noman and Sajid’s bowling brilliance resumed with even more ferocity. English batters, unable to withstand the relentless spin assault, crumbled swiftly. By the end of the second day, three wickets had already fallen, setting the stage for Pakistan’s spinners to secure victory on the following morning. England’s innings collapsed for a mere 112 runs — their second-lowest total against Pakistan in Test history — as Noman and Sajid claimed all 20 wickets, a historic feat.
Remarkably, the series marked a first in Pakistan’s cricket history, with pace bowlers not delivering a single ball throughout the entire Test. This extraordinary performance by the spin duo, who claimed a staggering 39 of the 40 English wickets in the last two Tests, underlines Pakistan’s potent spin arsenal on home soil.
This series win not only celebrates Pakistan’s resilience and strategic mastery but also serves as a statement on the international stage, as the team continues its ascent in the global cricket arena.