Rehan Ahmed snatched three fast wickets as England wrestled management on the second morning of the series-deciding third Check towards Pakistan.
The leg-spinner, who has waited patiently for eight months since his final cap, made positive to depart his mark by prising out Mohammad Rizwan, Salman Agha and Aamer Jamal.
Pakistan had been making regular progress at 144 for 4 when Ahmed entered the equation however reached the lunch break 80 runs behind on 187 for seven in Rawalpindi.
Saud Shakeel was holding the fort with a measured 72 not out however Ahmed’s three for 25 held sway.
Spin Assault
As anticipated, England began with spin at each ends within the type of Jack Leach and Shoaib Bashir.
Shakeel was given a life within the fifth over, nicking the off-spinner just for Jamie Smith to squander the prospect behind the stumps.
It was Smith’s buccaneering 89 that dragged England’s first innings again from the brink on day one however, for the second match in a row, his glovework left room for enchancment.
The fourth-wicket partnership pressed alongside to 53, including to the fielding facet’s frustration, however Bashir ultimately unpicked the left-handed Shan Masood courtesy of a wise low catch from Ollie Pope at second slip.
It was a well-earned success for the 21-year-old however England’s just one in a gap hour that Pakistan appeared content material to finish in stalemate.
Rizwan tried to hurry issues alongside after drinks, swiping Leach for six then threading Gus Atkinson for 4 because the seamer entered the assault.
Shakeel continued to carry England off and moved to a stable half-century from 92 balls when he swept Bashir to the boundary.
Rehan Ahmed’s Wickets
Pakistan continued to trim the lead, which was right down to 116 by the point Ahmed pressured his manner into the dialog.
Having been held in reserve for twenty-four overs, he struck along with his ninth ball – Rizwan hitting recent air with a sweep because it skipped by means of and trapped him lbw.
If that wicket left issues again within the stability, then one other in Ahmed’s subsequent over tightened England’s grip.
It was one other lbw name within the bowler’s favour, as soon as once more Pakistan burning a evaluate alongside the way in which, and the sight of Salman – a thorn in England’s facet over the course of the collection – disappearing for only one felt vital.
By now Ahmed was on a roll, foxing Jamal with a googly that darted in from outdoors off and bowled the all-rounder through an inside edge.
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