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Sunday, January 29, 2012
Pakistan humiliate England to take series
ABU DHABI: Left-arm spinner Abdul Rehman took a career best 6-25 to help Pakistan humble England by 72 runs in the second Test here on Saturday, to give them an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.
The 31-year-old twice took two wickets in successive overs to dent England’s chase after they were set a 145-run target on a weary fourth day Abu Dhabi Stadium pitch, bowling them out for 72 - their lowest against Pakistan in all Tests.
Rehman’s effort overshadowed Monty Panesar’s 6-62, in his first Test for 30 months, which finished Pakistan’s second innings at 214 in the morning.
This is England’s first series defeat after being unbeaten in their previous nine since their loss to the West Indies in early 2009 - a sequence which saw them rise to world number one in the Test rankings in August last year. Pakistan won the first Test in Dubai by 10 wickets. The third Test will also be played in Dubai from February 3. Skipper Misbahul Haq said Pakistan wanted to make a match out of it after setting a tricky target. “We knew that it would be difficult so we wanted to make a match out of it,” said Misbah, who has now won eight Tests with one defeat since taking over in October 2010. “Our bowlers led by Rehman responded well and this is a great win.” afpCourtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk