At The Oval, he managed just 18 runs in the match, dropped a routine catch and annoyed the England management by getting himself fined after confronting the third umpire about his first-innings dismissal to a controversial low catch.
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1998 The last time a spinner took a five-wicket haul conceding fewer than 100 runs at The Oval, before Yasir Shah’s 5 for 71 in England’s second innings: Muttiah Muralitharan took 9 for 65 in England’s second innings in 1998.
England lost the first Test at Lord’s but bounced back to win back to back games and had a chance to seal the series at The Oval.
The momentum was continued by first-innings centurion Moeen Ali, who lofted Shah high over wide long-on for six and looked in complete command before an uncharacteristically flat-footed prod at the leg-spinner was caught by wicketkeeper Sarfraz for 32 in the penultimate over before lunch.
“I have been hearing this for some 15 years now, but I am happy and did the hard work”.
Younis Khan was named Man of the Match for his brilliant knock wheras Pakistan skipper Misbah-ul-Haq was named Pakistan s Man of the Series whereas Chris Woakes was named England’s Man of the Series.
“As a senior player there are lots of expectations”, Younis told Sky Sports. “That’s why it (the double century) was on the right time”.
For Trevor Bayliss, England’s Australian coach, the honeymoon period is most definitely over after a defeat in this final Investec Test that saw Pakistan deservedly draw the series 2-2.
But Sunday’s result scuppered England’s immediate hopes of climbing to the top of the standings.
Riaz got his third warning for running into the danger area on the wicket and was stopped from bowling any further but the damage had already been done. We knew that, when the batsmen found form and we were able to combine our performances with the bat and the ball, we could do well.
A first-innings total of 328 was never enough. But the writing was on the wall for Alastair Cook’s side when four more wickets tumbled with just 209 on the board, with Jonny Bairstow departing following a battling 81. Shah dismissed Alex Hales at 12, Joe Root at 39, and James Vince for a duck, putting his team in clear sight of victory.
But despite debuting against Australia three years ago, it’s the latest, continued run in the side that has helped his confidence to perform at the Test level. Though the management trusted Khan and even included him for the final and fourth Test.
Reports in the British press Friday suggested England players would be allowed to skip the trip without endangering their long-term future in worldwide cricket even if longstanding security advisor Reg Dickason gave the go-ahead to the tour.
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Pakistan now travel to Ireland for two one-day internationals next week before returning to England for five ODIs and a Twenty20.
