Daily Times

Unpredictable Pakistan concluded their four-match Test series against England in the same magnificent style with which they had begun it at Lord’s last month, by clinching a famous series-levelling victory in the final Test at The Oval on Sunday. Set 40 for victory after overcoming some stiff but ultimately futile resistance from England’s lower-middle order, skipper Misbahul Haq and his charges had recouped 16 of those before tea, before romping to a ten-wicket victory in the space of 20 minutes after the resumption, thanks to the efforts of Sami Aslam and Azhar Ali, to whom the honour of the winning hit, high into the pavilion, eventually fell.

Pakistan’s achievement is all the more impressive as they have not played a Test series on home soil since an armed attack on Sri Lanka’s team bus in Lahore in 2009 turned the country into a no-go area for the world’s leading Test nations. The United Arab Emirates has since become their adopted base. But for all their success in conditions similar to those on home soil, Pakistan often find themselves facing in the dispiriting position of playing before meagre crowds rather than in front of their own passionate supporters. It was also special, keeping in mind it was Independence Day. It was something special to draw the series in England after being 2-1 down, losing the second and third Tests poorly: by 330 and 141 runs, at Old Trafford and Edgbaston respectively.

Resuming 126 runs behind at 88-4, England began well with consecutive half-century partnerships. But two wickets fell in successive balls after lunch, including the enterprising Jonny Bairstow for 81 from 127 balls, and they were 253 all out. With this, all hope for England was blown away. Spinner Yasir Shah, who took 5-71, could not apply the coup de grace to England’s innings. That honour instead went to the debutant Iftikhar Ahmad, who brought an end to some spirited defiance from England’s final pair, and picked up his maiden Test wicket, when he extracted an lbw verdict against James Anderson for 17. With paltry target on board, Azhar sealed the match with a six soon after tea.

Many would have welcomed a fifth Test to decide an intriguing series but the teams will next meet again in limited overs cricket. The build-up to the final game had focused on England’s quest to regain the number one Test ranking, but it was Pakistan who took a decisive step towards the top spot. They will reach the summit if India do not beat West Indies in next week’s final Test in Trinidad and Australia fail to win the final Test in Sri Lanka. After losing the previous two matches easily it was an impressive recovery, with 38-year-old Younus Khan reaching 200 for the sixth time and Yasir claiming his sixth five-wicket haul in only his 16th Test. Seamer Sohail Khan proved a useful addition, taking 13 wickets in the final two matches. There was double celebration as victory was achieved on the nation’s Independence Day.

Rarely does Pakistan play a Test series without a major contribution from Younus. Pakistan’s finished Test tour of England, however, was different. For six innings across three Tests, Younus struggled. He hopped around the crease and was made to look extremely awkward by England’s pacers. Many suggested that age had finally caught up with Pakistan’s batting stalwart and that this tour spelled the end of his illustrious career. With 122 runs in six innings and highest score of 33, Younus’ tour to England was quite barren and all critics had a ball sharpening their knives. As Pakistan returned to The Oval, their favourite hunting ground in England, they needed something special to come back from the hammering at Old Trafford and the embarrassment at Edgbaston. That something special came from the master – Younus. With one monumental innings he responded to all those critics and reminded the world why he is among the best batsmen ever to play the game. Younus’ 218 at The Oval was his sixth double century, a Pakistan record that he now shares with Javed Miandad. Younus is in elite company now with six double centuries to his name. The quantum of runs, however, was not what was special in Younus’ innings at The Oval. It was the way he went about getting those runs. It was a great example of how to build a Test innings and it was executed to perfection.

Statistically speaking, Pakistan’s win-loss Test record at The Oval is 5-3, indeed dazzling. It is the only venue in England where Pakistan have won more Tests than they have lost. In their last seven Tests at The Oval they have won four and drawn two: the only defeat was the forfeiture in 2006. The FIVE by Pakistan is also the most Tests they have won at any away venue. On the other hand, there are four defeats for England, from the last seven Tests they have played at The Oval, since 2010. They have lost twice to Pakistan, and once each to South Africa and Australia. Their win-loss ratio is the poorest among all home venues during this period. In home Tests this year Chris Woakes scored 282 runs and took 34 wickets, only Ian Botham and Andrew Flintoff 2005 have achieved 300 runs and 30 wickets in a season in England.

Misbah and his men should also be commended for their conduct on their first tour of England since a controversial trip in 2010 saw often strained Anglo-Pakistan cricket relations sink to an all-time low. That tour featured the infamous ‘spot-fixing’ Test at Lord’s where then captain Salman Butt, pace bowler Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Asif were all given five-year bans and jail terms for deliberately bowling no-balls. This year’s series saw Amir make his Test return at Lord’s and he had to deal with the odd crowd shout of ‘no-ball’. But there were no on-field flare-ups between Misbah’s men and an England side led by Alastair Cook. Amir took 12 wickets in the series at an expensive average of 42 but his figures would have been far better had Pakistan held all the chances the left-arm quick created.

This stunning series draw not only denied England their stated goal of holding all the series trophies against all nine of their Test opponents, but reaffirmed Pakistan’s own prospects of achieving the unthinkable and rising to become the No.1 nation in the world. For a side that has not played a single match on home soil in more than seven years, that would be a glory without parallel. Nothing in Pakistan cricket lasts a lifetime, nothing in Pakistan cricket comes easy. Pakistan, no doubt, have won more hearts and minds than away series. What a moment!