Pakistan won by 75 runs on the fourth day of their series opener.
Advertisement
Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq said Mohammad Aamer could start a “new life” after he completed his return to he scene of his spot-fixing shame by rounding off victory over England in the first Test at Lord’s on Sunday.
A watchful 56-run stand between Bairstow and Chris Woakes offered temporary hope but once Shah had worked yet more magic, the game was up for England.
Alastair Cook, the England captain, blamed “naive” batting for the defeat, with none of his batsmen reaching 50 as Yasir spun a web for the second time in the match.
Amir had also served a prison sentence in the United Kingdom for his part in a plot with former skipper Salman Butt and Mohammad Asif to deliberately bowl no-balls in the final Test of Pakistan’s last tour of England at Lord’s in 2010.
Left-arm seamer Rahat Ali’s gave an impressive performance with a triple strike reducing England to 47-3 and Yasir Shah later bagged the wickets of Gary Ballance and Moeen Ali with his sharp turners. All the pre-match focus had been on Amir, but it was Rahat who stunned England.
His back-off-a-length ball had left-hander Cook (8) edging through to wicketkeeper Sarfraz Ahmed. Cook’s opening partner Alex Hales made a brisk 16 before carelessly chasing a wide ball from Rahat outside off stump, with Mohammad Hafeez holding a good catch at first slip. But with a man sent back for the shot, he fell into a hooking trap when he paddled a short ball from Rahat to Yasir at deep square-leg.
England will have to play him much better second time round if they are to pull off their highest chase on this ground to avoid going 1-0 down with three to play.
James Vince, dropped in the slips, struck nine fours, mainly through the offside, on his way to a Test-best 41 not out at lunch without looking assured.
Vince was handed two reprieves from one loose shot, Younis Khan unable to hold at second slip.
“To allow Yasir to get six wickets when it wasn’t turning has cost us”, said Cook.
Later on Friday and early yesterday, he was eclipsed by his team-mate, leg-spinner Yasir Shah, who took 6-72 as England were bundled out for 272 in their first innings.
Moeen Ali hardly helped England’s cause, dismissed for two when he charged at a Yasir delivery and was bowled to leave England on 139 for six.
Riaz was unlucky to wicketless during an excellent spell of reverse-swing bowling against Bairstow and Waokes.
Pakistan will resume on Day 4 already eight wickets down, but having scored 214 their lead is now up to 281 and even that looks like a daunting fourth innings chase, particularly given England’s top order capitulation against Sri Lanka, and again in the first innings.
Advertisement
Yasir had moved to a career-best 30 the previous evening, but did not add before falling to the last ball of the first over.
