Pakistan’s cricket team celebrated a triumphant return to home success as they secured a 2-1 Test series victory over England, marking their first series win on home soil in three years. The decisive victory came on October 26, 2024, at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, where spinners Noman Ali and Sajid Khan wreaked havoc on the English batting lineup.
In the third and final Test, Pakistan had established a commanding first-innings lead of 77 runs, setting the stage for a dominant performance. Noman Ali’s remarkable figures of 6 wickets for 42 runs and Sajid Khan’s 4 for 69 dismantled England, bowling them out for just 112 runs in their second innings. This left Pakistan with a mere 36 runs to claim the series.
Although Pakistan lost Saim Ayub early in their chase, home captain Shan Masood made quick work of the target, striking Jack Leach for four consecutive boundaries followed by a six off the first delivery from Shoaib Bashir to seal the victory.
Remarkably, Noman and Sajid took 19 of the 20 England wickets in this match, demonstrating the spin-friendly nature of the pitch, as Pakistan did not utilize their only fast bowler, Aamer Jamal, at all. The duo has now claimed 39 out of 40 English wickets in the last two Tests since their selection mid-series.
Resuming their innings at 24 for 3, England struggled against Pakistan’s relentless spinners, losing wickets consistently. Only Joe Root managed to offer any resistance with a score of 33 before falling to Noman, paving the way for Pakistan’s inevitable victory. England captain Ben Stokes’ dismissal—caught lbw by an incoming delivery from Noman—perfectly illustrated the challenges faced by the English side throughout the match.
The last time Pakistan celebrated a Test series victory on home soil was three years ago when they defeated South Africa 2-0.
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