MULTAN: Pakistan captain Babar Azam conceded his gamers could not mix nicely as a unit towards England because the guests sealed the three-match sequence with an exhilarating 26-run win within the second check on Monday.
“We acquired loads of alternatives to win, however we could not seize it as a staff,” Babar stated after England bowled out Pakistan for 328 to win inside 4 days.
“Right now we additionally had a possibility, however we could not end it. Our fundamental bowlers acquired unfit and it value us, however that is not the excuse as a result of I imagine as a staff we did not play nicely.”
Pakistan, already with out injured Shaheen Afridi for the sequence, acquired two main blows when quick bowler Haris Rauf pulled his thigh muscle in the course of the first check defeat at Rawalpindi final week after which Naseem Shah was additionally dominated out on the eve of the second check due to niggle in his shoulder.
Quick bowler Mark Wooden, who did not play within the first check, led the relentless tempo of England with 4-65 to sprint Pakistan’s hopes on a slow-turning wicket the place the England bowlers used the reverse swing with perfection.
England got here again strongly after it set Pakistan a difficult goal of 355 in additional than eight classes earlier than ending off the sport an hour into lunch on Day 4.
Lefthanded Saud Shakeel (94) scored his third successive half-century of the sequence and featured in two productive partnerships with Imam-ul-Haq (60) and Mohammad Nawaz (45). England broke the century stand between Imam and Shakeel late on the third day to boost England’s hopes.
Wooden then struck two essential blows when he ended the 80-run stand between Shakeel and Nawaz when he dismissed each batters off his two overs with the second new ball.
“In check matches, you want expertise, how your gamers carry out in strain conditions,” Babar stated. “We had been within the recreation and had partnerships going, however we misplaced back-to-back set batsmen (Nawaz and Saud), then the tail got here and sadly we could not end the sport.”
Babar needed to push himself as much as No. 3 from his ordinary No. 4 batting slot after he dropped his skilled check batter Azhar Ali due to an absence of type. The Pakistan skipper made 75 within the first innings, however as soon as he was dismissed on Day Two, Pakistan misplaced seven wickets within the house of 37 runs and conceded a 79-run lead.
Ollie Robinson undid Babar for just one with an excellent inswinger because the Pakistan captain tried to go away the ball solely to see his off stump getting knocked over.
“We had various smooth dismissals (within the first innings),” Babar stated. “There have been few good balls, however our batters might have carried out in a different way to the deliveries on which they acquired out. “Each participant has to step up in numerous situations. As an expert, you need to play in worse situations than this and carry out.”
Babar praised debutant thriller spinner, Abrar Ahmed, for his match haul of 11-234 because the bespectacled 24-year-old claimed the primary seven England wickets within the first innings earlier than including 4 extra to his tally within the second innings.
“Abrar modified the sport within the first innings and had a dream begin to his check cricket,” Babar stated. “As a captain, you’re pleased when a teenager earns you wickets.”
The third and remaining Take a look at begins in Karachi on Saturday.
