Leg-spinner Yasir Shah on Sunday took five wickets to help Pakistan crush England by 10 wickets in the final Test at The Oval and level a fluctuating series 2-2.
The touring side bowled England out for 253 in their second innings, Shah completing figures of 5-71, before Azhar Ali and Sami Aslam eased them to a simple target of 40 in 13.1 overs to complete an emphatic win.
“It was special, keeping in mind it was [Pakistan’s] Independence Day, it was something special to draw the series here after being 2-1 down, losing the second Test badly and losing the third,” Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq told the BBC. “The way the team fought back, I’m a really happy captain.”
England had resumed on 88-4 and Gary Ballance soon fell for 17, but Jonny Bairstow and Moeen Ali shared a sixth-wicket partnership of 65 to give the hosts hope of saving the match.
However, shortly before lunch Shah deceived Moeen with a quicker delivery and the left-hander, on 32, nicked another catch to a gleeful Sarfraz.
Chris Woakes was run out following a mix-up with Bairstow, who drove the next delivery from Wahab Riaz straight to extra cover, his departure for 81 ending any realistic chance of England saving the match.
Stuart Broad reverse swept Shah straight to Younus Khan at slip, and after Steven Finn and James Anderson shared a defiant last-wicket partnership of 32, Anderson was trapped LBW by part-time off-spinner Iftikhar Ahmed for 17.
Azhar smashed Moeen for a huge six to take Pakistan to 42-0 and clinch victory, punching the air in delight before leaving the field with Aslam to warm applause from the sun-baked crowd.
SRI LANKA VS AUSTRALIA
Reuters, COLOMBO
Steven Smith and Shaun Marsh yesterday hit centuries, but Sri Lanka spinner Rangana Herath picked up six wickets to restrict Australia’s first-innings lead to 24 runs on the third day of the third and final Test.
Captain Smith made 119 and opening batsman Marsh struck 130 as the tourists were all out for 379 in reply to Sri Lanka’s total of 355.
Herath, 38, continued tormenting Australia with left-arm spin, taking his series tally to 21 wickets.
The hosts, 2-0 up in the series, then lost nightwatchman Dilruwan Perera (eight) LBW to paceman Mitchell Starc as they reached 22-1 at stumps in their second innings.
Dimuth Karunaratne (eight), dropped on one by wicketkeeper Peter Nevill off Nathan Lyon, and Kaushal Silva (six) were the not out batsmen.
Resuming on 141-1, Smith and Marsh kept Sri Lanka wicketless through the morning session, but both fell in the space of three overs after the new ball was taken after lunch.
The pair added 246 for the second wicket.
Marsh, playing his 18th Test after a seven-month absence, was the first to get to his hundred, his fourth in Tests, with a paddle sweep off Dilruwan Perera that went to the boundary.
The 33-year-old, replacing opener Joe Burns in this match, was dropped on 64 and 121. He was finally out when he chopped seamer Suranga Lakmal onto his stumps.
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