Leg-spinner Yasir Shah (4-87) and left-arm spinner Zulfiqar Babar (3-53) shared the bowling honours as England, set a daunting 491-run target, were bowled out for 312 late on the fifth day with just 6.3 overs left in the match at Dubai stadium.
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It is 23rd bilateral Test series between Pakistan and England since 1954.
The second Test between Pakistan and England in Dubai is balanced on a knife-edge after bad light curtailed play on the second day with England on 182-3 in response to Pakistan’s 378 all out.
England lost the 2nd Test against Pakistan despite a valiant rearguard directed by Adil Rashid by 178 runs.
Although England came close to salvaging a draw, they were ultimately punished for a batting collapse at the start of day three, which saw Wahab pick up three wickets in a hostile nine-over spell as Alastair Cook’s side slumped from an overnight score of 182-3 to 242 all out.
Caught off an ugly slog for a second-ball duck in the first innings, Rashid – playing only his second Test – batted with vast composure during a 172-ball knock spanning four hours.
From a seemingly perilous 193-7, he added 60 with Broad and 55 in 29.2 overs with Wood, the highest ninth-wicket stand in a fourth innings in Test history.
Rashid’s was the final wicket, which had stood for nearly four hours, to fall, meaning that Pakistan have taken a 1-0 series lead with one Test left to play.
Cook’s (10) torment was soon over, his attempted sweep off Yasir Shah giving Wahab a catch at deep backward square as England stumbled to 19 for two.
But after Wood found Mohammad Hafeez at gully, Rashid finally succumbed to a floaty delivery from Shah, which the Yorkshire all-rounder smashed straight to Babar at cover, as England were bowled out for 312. It was an appropriate finale as Pakistan’s two spin bowlers combined for the final wicket. But Pakistani bowlers were lethal in the first session of the second day and made life hard for English batsmen. You want to see your players having a bit of fight and there is never a better time for this team to show they have got a few fight and have character.
Jonny Bairstow, dropped on 11 off Babar, did not survive much longer as Shah bowled him through the gate with a sharp googly for 22 as England slumped to 163 for five.
Jos Buttler continued his poor form, edging Yasir to Younus at slip on seven, and Ben Stokes was removed for 13 when his wayward drive off paceman Imran Khan went to Misbah at slip.
Not a single batsman except Root could prolong his innings and he also got out after making 71 runs.
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But with the third and final Test already only a week away, the sight of Cook so obviously struggling appeared an obvious worry.
