Dubai: Pakistan’s bowlers sealed an emphatic 71-run win in the third and final Test against England here on Monday, 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 ten 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.
England, 89-2 at lunch, were still in with a chance with Alastair Cook (49) and Kevin Pietersen (18) batting well but they lost four wickets in the space of 84 runs. They went to tea at 173-6.
Pakistan took the second new ball at 196-6 and the first ball saw Gul dismissing Stuart Broad (18) and then Graeme Swann on one.
Matt Prior remained not out at 49 when Monty Panesar was dismissed by Rehman for nine.
England had looked for big partnerships after resuming at 36-0 but that never transpired.
Pakistan could have wrapped the match earlier had they not dropped two crucial catches, the first off Strauss on 26 when wicket-keeper Adnan Akmal grassed a simple chance off Gul. (AFP)
