PAK vs. ENG 2024/25, PAK vs. ENG 3rd test match report, October 24th – 28th, 2024

Shakeel's remarkable 134 from 223 balls – his fourth in Tests – took Pakistan to 344 and boasted a crucial lead of 77 in the first innings. This was ultimately achieved thanks to the vital help of Noman Ali (45) and Sajid Khan (48) in stands of 88 and 72, before they resumed their starring role to once again trample on England's top order, leaving them on At the end it was 24 to 3.

Shakeel returned to action on 16 overnight, bringing old-world style and substance with him. There were just five boundaries during his vigil, the fourth of which was a solid swing in front of the pitch that took him to 50 from 92 deliveries. His fifth and final strike came 108 balls later. It was fitting that he should be given the honor of taking Pakistan to 267 and canceling out England's opening try by smashing a comfortable single off the penultimate ball before tea.

England had gone into the lunch break on the up and took advantage of an extended opening session to reduce Pakistan to 187 for 7, with Rehan taking three of the four wickets, to fall from 73 for 3 after the resumption. This included Rizwan and Salman Agha catching leg before play in the space of nine deliveries before he bowled Aamer Jamal drag-on-off googly.

Shakeel was in a position to strike throughout the morning but could have been eliminated on the 26th when Bashir – who sent off Shan Masood – found a lead to Jamie Smith, who was unable to make a low catch. The ball eventually bounced off the wicketkeeper's left shin, reflecting the difficulty of the chance due to a lack of bounce.

After lunch, Shakeel and the very capable Noman were still 80 behind and set about matching England's first innings. The latter was the main aggressor, battering Rehan by six shots as the 20-year-old struggled to find the full distance he had achieved so easily in an excellent eight-over game before the first break.

Perhaps because there were two left-handers, Ben Stokes decided not to leave the legspinner on at the start of the session. When he reintroduced Rehan, it was in the media and not in the Pavilion End where he had bowled all his previous nine overs.

The skipper's frustration was heightened when Joe Root, brought in to bowl in the 78th over, got his first delivery by spitting out of the rough and taking the shoulder off Noman's bat when the left-hander was on the 35th. Stokes, who was initially close, slipped, touched the ball with his fingertips and dived to his left. Noman had earlier corrected an LBW exclusion at 10, with DRS confirming an inside edge. It was the third decision overturned by umpire Sharfuddoula in the innings.

In the following game, Shakeel smashed another comfortable single to leg to reach his first hundred against England and his second at this venue. The cheers from his batting partner and his team-mates in the home dressing room were far more animated than his own, all too aware that there was still a lot of work to be done.

Noman's stay was ended by Bashir, who slipped the second new ball into the No.9's pads. However, at the start of the evening session, he was on the receiving end of Sajid's acceleration while Shakeel was more than happy to hand the bat to the moustachioed whirlwind. Even the blow that Sajid received on the chin, splattering blood on his shirt, came from his blade trying to drag Rehan over his shoulder.

Shakeel's stay was eventually limited to five hours and eight minutes as he failed to block or defend a short throw from Gus Atkinson to sub-fielder Matthew Potts at midwicket. Atkinson's failure to play earlier was a further detriment to Stokes' captaincy after lunch, and it was strange that he did not turn to his own team when Pakistan's lower order had their way with spin.

As the innings came to an end thanks to Rehan's excellent googly into Mahmood's stumps, a sunset at 5.20pm suggested England didn't have much to see. But there was still enough time for a cascade of three wickets in 28 deliveries for just five runs.

Ben Duckett, the most proactive player against spin, was trapped LBW on the back leg by Sajid, a decision that required the referee to do a DRS review. An arm ball from Noman then caught Crawley – the fourth time the left-back had bowled the opener in as many innings – before Ollie Pope capped off a dismal series of low hands that offered Noman a catch at slip via a deflection off Rizwan's gloves in the second Inning.

The deficit is 53 and there is hope for England that Root and Harry Brook can make amends on day three. It was these two who combined to score 454 in the first Test in Multan. But as anyone involved in Pakistan cricket will tell you, a lot can change in two weeks.