Saud’s ton, all-round show from Noman and Sajid put Pakistan on top in final Test

Pakistan’s determined efforts both with the bat and ball has placed them in a commanding position on day two of the decisive third Test between Pakistan and England in Rawalpindi.

Saud Shakeel's gritty century, complemented by valuable runs from Sajid Khan and Noman Ali, led Pakistan to a substantial 77-run first-innings lead over England. Following this batting display, Pakistan’s spinners struck early, leaving England struggling at 24-3 at stumps.

Pakistan players look on during the review of the lbw wicket of England's Zak Crawley.Reuters

With Pakistan at 73-3, England began the day with Ben Stokes relying on spin from both ends, trying to capitalize on the morning freshness. Saud offered an early chance on 26, edging Shoaib Bashir to Jamie Smith, who couldn’t gather the low catch.

Bashir made amends soon after, dismissing Pakistan captain Shan Masood for 26, caught in the slips.

England leg-spinner Rehan Ahmed then struck twice in quick succession. First, he trapped Mohammad Rizwan lbw for 25, forcing the batter to waste a review, and then dismissed Salman Agha in similar fashion, catching the Pakistan middle order off guard.

Shortly afterward, Rehan bowled Aamer Jamal with a well-disguised googly, putting England in a strong position.

Pakistan fightback with crucial partnerships

Pakistan relied heavily on Saud, who played a marathon innings of 134 runs. His disciplined knock held the innings together and featured just five boundaries, reflecting the patience and grit needed to bat on this surface.

Despite the setbacks, Saud and Noman Ali batted with exceptional composure, frustrating England’s bowlers and patiently building Pakistan’s innings.

Saud combined with Noman for a crucial 88-run partnership for the eighth wicket, pulling Pakistan back from a precarious position.

Noman contributed a vital 45 runs, showing resilience and determination as he supported Saud in turning the innings around.

Saud reached his century with a single off Rehan, celebrating quietly with a fist bump with Noman. The pair batted through most of the post-lunch session until Bashir eventually dismissed Noman lbw.

Even after Noman’s departure, Saud continued his mission, forging another significant 72-run stand with Sajid Khan. Sajid played aggressively, hitting two fours and four sixes in a brisk cameo that shifted the momentum further in Pakistan’s favor.

Saud's remarkable innings eventually came to an end when he was dismissed by Atkinson, but his work was already done. Rehan Ahmed then clean bowled Zahid Mehmood, leaving Pakistan all out for 344, with Sajid left stranded on an impressive 48 not out.

Malik Farman Ali, the mentor to off-spinner Sajid Khan, describes the off-spinner as a resilient cricketer who doesn’t let setbacks affect him emotionally.

"Whenever something goes wrong in his cricket career, it only strengthens his determination. If he’s dropped from a match at 2 p.m., you’ll see him practicing at my academy by 3 p.m.," Malik told Nukta from Peshawar.

"Initially, he was primarily a batsman when I scouted him from school, and he later added off-spin to his skills. Despite batting down the order for Pakistan, he could play substantial innings if promoted to No. 5 in Test cricket," he added.

Rehan finished with figures of 4-66, leading the English bowling efforts.

England under pressure

Trailing by 77 runs, England’s openers knew they faced a tough task, especially with Pakistan’s bowlers buoyed by their first-innings lead.

Ben Duckett attempted to seize the initiative, striking Sajid Khan for consecutive boundaries in his first over with sweep shots. However, Sajid had the last laugh, dismissing Duckett lbw for 12 in his next over. Noman Ali quickly joined the action, trapping Zak Crawley lbw for just 2 on the first ball of the next over.

England’s woes continued when Noman struck again in his fourth over, removing vice-captain Ollie Pope for a mere 1. With the top order in tatters at 24-3, England found themselves under significant pressure, still trailing Pakistan’s first innings by 53 runs.

At stumps, Joe Root was unbeaten on 5, and Harry Brook was with him on 3, with both batsmen facing a massive task to erase the deficit and set a competitive target for Pakistan.