Pakistan beat England by 10 wickets at The Oval to draw Test series 2-2

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Tom Collomosse14 August 2016

England must be tempted to request a ban on Test cricket in London after suffering a fourth defeat in five in the capital.

Pakistan completed their 10-wicket victory at The Kia Oval today and ensured a thrilling Investec Series ends 2-2. They also won at the First Test at Lord’s, while in last summer’s Ashes series, Australia prevailed twice in London, too. In between those contests, England had a forgettable draw with Sri Lanka at the home of cricket.

While England lick their wounds and seek to correct their flaws before their tours of Bangladesh and India this winter, Pakistan can celebrate. As he did at Lord’s, leg-spinner Yasir Shah – ineffective in Manchester and Birmingham – bowled England out in the second innings, finishing with five for 71.

England were dismissed for 253, leaving Pakistan 40 to win. They did in style, with Azhar Ali drilling a straight six off Moeen Ali for the decisive runs.

Apart from their hammering in the Second Test at Old Trafford, the tourists have generally been the more convincing team. But for a dreadful session after lunch in the Third Test at Edgbaston, which England won against the odds, Pakistan would have a 2-1 series victory.

A drawn series is still a fine achievement, however, as was their convincing triumph here. Needing six England wickets at the start of play, Pakistan did their job efficiently, as only Jonny Bairstow, who made 81, held them up.

The key moment of the day was shortly after lunch. Bairstow called Chris Woakes through for a quick single, then sent him back. Wahab Riaz had gathered the ball in his follow-through and he hurled it at the stumps, which broke well before Woakes could regain his ground.

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Perhaps flustered by his mistake, Bairstow drove Wahab’s next delivery on the up towards extra cover. Azhar tumbled, caught it and the game was up.

At times, England have been excellent in this series. The 330-run win at Old Trafford was a flawless display. In Alastair Cook and Joe Root, they have two batsmen who would probably be in a World XI.

Ben Stokes, who has played only one Test in this series due to injury, is a match winner with bat and ball. With 26 wickets in the series, Chris Woakes has established himself in the team. Jimmy Anderson and Stuart Broad are an outstanding new-ball pair, while Jonny Bairstow continues to improve with bat and gloves.

But where are the batsmen? Neither Alex Hales, James Vince nor Gary Ballance made a persuasive case to be retained for the winter. And what of the spinner?

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As fabulously as Moeen Ali has batted in this Test and the last, he is in the team as a slow bowler, and he has been largely ineffective in both attack and defence.

Moeen played well again in the second innings, joining Bairstow after Ballance was caught behind off Sohail Khan, trying to score through cover off the back foot. Moeen and Bairstow batted positively and with great skill, until Yasir outwitted Moeen with a quicker delivery and he edged to the wicketkeeper.

That was five minutes before lunch, and Woakes and Bairstow departed soon after the interval. Broad did not hang around for long, either, caught at slip attempting a sweep, and Anderson was last out, leg-before to Iftikhar Ahmed.

It was Anderson who said, before the Test, that this England team could better the achievements of the sides coached by Andy Flower from 2009-13. Considering those teams won three Ashes series, triumphed in India and reached the top of the world Test rankings, it is starting to look a particularly bold call.

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