Pakistan struck when it mattered most to inflict yet another defeat to not only win the third Test against England but also with it the series 2-0. This adds to another feather in Misbah-ul-Haq’s cap who by all standards remains the most successful captain of his country.

His century (102) and three half-centuries no doubt played a significant role in Pakistan’s domination in the series. That combined with his cool and calculated leadership even when his team briefly struggled in the second and third Test tells the whole story of Pakistan’s triumphant march to beat an Ashes-winning team which came to the UAE well geared up to maintain their ranking above Pakistan.

Pakistan in their attitude through these Tests against England rarely were cowed down or showed any hint of being coward. In fact, their reaction even when tackling adverse situations was always resilient.

No wonder then that England captain Cook in the post-match session praised Pakistan’s determination with which they took on his team.

It certainly was never easy for Misbah’s men once they got out cheaply in the first innings here in Sharjah and then concede a first-innings lead. It goes to the credit to his men that they having gathered all their resources with bat and ball not only wiped off the deficit but also left England with a target to settle the fate of the series.

The urge to win and the hunger with it indeed helped Pakistan’s resolve to keep things tight and they did succeed in it comprehensively through some fine bowling.

Be it Wahab Riaz, Rahat Ali, Yasir Shah, Zulfiqar Babar, Shoaib Malik or Imran Khan in the earlier match, they all made contributions to complement what Misbah, Younis Khan, Mohammad Hafeez and Asad Shafiq achieved with the bat. No less a part was played by the ever-ebullient Sarfraz whose glovework has no doubt improved by miles than when he started.

England’s collapse yesterday when they lost four of their wickets for only 11 runs in the first hour of the morning never really left them with any option rather than play a waiting game to avoid the inevitable which predictably came within forty minutes of play after lunch.

It was not surprising therefore that Yasir Shah, Pakistan’s trump card, was declared the man-of-the-series for his seven wickets in the Sharjah match and 15 altogether in the two Tests which Pakistan won. Had he been fit for the first Test things perhaps could even have been little more rosy for Misbah and company.

The leggie kept the pressure mounting with his attacking spin bowling to partner a steady Zulfiqar who was no less effective.

Not forgetting Shoaib Malik’s role in his swansong Test. The veteran all-rounder failed with the bat after that big double ton in the first Test but did really bowled superbly here in Sharjah to finish on a high with a bag of seven wickets in the match.

England, it must be said, played their cricket the way it should be played, that is within the spirit of the game. And for this Cook and his team-mates should be admired for the appreciation they displayed of the way Pakistan played their own cricket, competing them measure for measure to not let their shoulder droop.

James Anderson and Stuart Broad despite not much help from the slow wickets bowled superbly all through the series, not allowing Pakistan huge scores except in the Abu Dhabi Test. And their spinners, though not of the highest class, did also respond with wickets.

Cook’s brilliance with the willow was the feature of England batting. The highest run-maker in Tests for England, Cook was gutsy, productive and purposeful despite the hiccups he faced with injuries and form of some of his team members.

Let us therefore stand up and appreciate both Pakistan and England for the entertaining series in which one team had to win, and on this occasion it was Pakistan.

Published in Dawn, November 6th, 2015

On a mobile phone? Get the Dawn Mobile App: Apple Store | Google Play