Pakistan’s batting lineup crumbled under relentless pace pressure as England secured a commanding 194-run victory, clinching the three-match Test series with a match to spare.
Resuming their second innings on the fourth morning at 177 for 7, England added valuable runs to set an imposing target. Dan Lawrence added to his overnight score before falling for 54 off 70 deliveries. Ollie Robinson contributed 8 runs from 15 balls, while Josh Tongue chipped in with 12 from 15 before the innings concluded at 208. Mohammad Abbas led the Pakistani bowling attack with an impressive five-wicket haul, supported by two wickets each from Khurram Shahzad and Mohammad Ali, leaving the tourists with a daunting target of 389.
Chasing an improbable total proved insurmountable for Pakistan, though early resistance flickered. Openers Shan Masood and Azaan Awais failed to settle, with Awais dismissed for 7 off 14 deliveries as the partnership broke at just 7 runs. Abdullah Shafique fell for a duck at number three, and captain Babar Azam managed only 6 runs before departing, leaving Pakistan reeling at 17 for 3.
A brief recovery ensued as Shan Masood combined with Saud Shakeel to steady the innings. The pair exhibited fluency across the pitch, adding vital runs to give the touring side a semblance of hope. Masood’s resistance ended at 26 from 72 balls, and wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan followed quickly for 1 run.
Saud Shakeel remained the sole pillar of resistance for the batting side, handling the English pace battery with composure and stroke-play. He moved past his half-century and marched towards a well-deserved hundred, anchoring the lower order alongside Ali Usman, who blocked out 16 runs from 44 balls. Heartbreak struck just short of the milestone when Shakeel fell for 97 off 122 balls, edging an aggressive stroke off Josh Tongue.
The tail offered brief resistance through Khurram Shahzad with 9, Mohammad Ali with 8, and Mohammad Abbas finishing unbeaten on 13, but the innings folded at 194. Ollie Robinson spearheaded the English attack with 4 wickets, backed by Josh Tongue with 3 and Jofra Archer with 2. The resounding victory hands England an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series ahead of the final fixture.
