Pakistan sweep England 3-0

Tuesday, February 07, 2012

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AFP) — Pakistan's bowlers sealed an emphatic 71-run win in the third and final Test against England here yesterday, inflicting a 3-0 series whitewash humiliation in the process.

Set a daunting 324-run target, England were bowled out for 252 with paceman Umar Gul taking 4-61 and off-spinner Saeed Ajmal (4-67) to help Pakistan achieve a first-ever Test clean sweep against their opponents.

With the ball turning again it was always a difficult task for England's batsmen, who have been unable to play the Pakistani spinners throughout the series, on a weary fourth day pitch at Dubai Stadium.

Pakistan won the first Test here by 10 wickets and the second by 72 runs in Abu Dhabi.

Pakistan have also become the first team to win a Test after being bowled out for under 100 since 1907 when England, shot out for 76, beat South Africa at Leeds.

It was England's seventh series whitewash, their first at the hands of Pakistan. Pakistan have now recorded five series whitewashes, their last coming in a 3-0 win over Bangladesh in 2003.

England's last series whitewash came in 2007 when they were routed by Australia 5-0.

So dominating have been Pakistanis spinners that Ajmal finished the series with 24 and Rehman with 19.

Scoreboard

Pakistan 1st innings 99

England 1st innings 141

Pakistan 2nd innings 365

England 2nd innings

A Strauss lbw b Rehman 26

A Cook c Younis b Ajmal 49

J Trott c Rehman b Ajmal 18

K Pietersen b Ajmal 18

I Bell c Shafiq b Gul 10

E Morgan c Adnan b Gul 31

M Prior not out 49

S Broad c Umar b Gul 18

G Swann c Shafiq b Gul 1

J Anderson c Younis b Ajmal 9

M Panesar lbw b Rehman 8

Extras: (b4, lb8, nb3) 15

Total: 252

Fall of wickets: 1-48 (Strauss), 2-85 (Trott), 3-116 (Pietersen), 4-119 (Cook), 5-156 (Bell), 6-159 (Morgan), 7-196 (Broad), 8-203 (Swann), 9-237 (Anderson).

Bowling: Gul 20-5-61-4 (nb2), Cheema 4-0-9-0, Hafeez 5-2-6-0, Rehman 41.3-10-97-2, Ajmal 27-9-67-4

Overs: 97.3

Result: Pakistan won by 71 runs

Toss: Pakistan

Umpires: Simon Taufel (AUS) and Steve Davis (AUS)

TV umpire: Shavir Tarapore (IND)

Match referee: Jeff Crowe (NZL)