Pakistan demolished England by 71 runs in the last and third test at Dubai to clinch first whitewash in test cricket against the inventors of game.
England started the fourth day at 36 for zero needing 288 for a consolation win with all wickets intact. Andrew Strauss was first to leave at 48, falling leg before wicket to Abdul Rehman for 26 .Pakistan’s second victim was Jonathan Trott, caught by Abdul Rehman off Saeed Ajmal for 18 with the total at 85. England, 89-2 at lunch, was still in with a chance with Alastair Cook and Kevin Petersen batting well but they lost four wickets in the space of 84 runs. They went to tea at 173 for 6. Saeed Ajmal produced a beautiful delivery to bowl Petersen through the gate for 18. In his next over, Ajmal produced another sharp turning delivery which caught the edge of cook’s bat and was smartly held by a diving Younis khan in the lone slip. Pakistan took the second new ball at 196 for 6 and the first ball saw Gul dismissing Stuart Broad and then Graeme Swann on one. Matt Prior remained not out at 49 when Monty Panesar was dismissed by Rehman for nine. Saeed Ajmal and Umar Gul shared 4 wickets each. President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani have congratulated the whole nation as well as the cricket team for restoring the glory of Pakistan cricket. Pakistan have also become the first team to win a test after being bowled out for under 100 since 1907 when England, shot out for 76, beat South Africa at Leeds. It was England’s seventh series whitewash, their first at the hands of Pakistan. Pakistan have now recorded five series whitewashes, their last coming in a 3-0 win over Bangladesh in 2003. England’s last series whitewash came in 2007 when they were routed by Australia 5-0.
