England slump to series defeat

Date released: 28 January 2012

Rehman's six wickets took Pakistan to series victory in Abu Dhabi

England slumped to a crushing 72-run defeat as Abdur Rehman spun Pakistan to a series win in the second Test.

Rehman took 6-25 as England’s top order collapsed spectacularly to 72 all out in pursuit of a modest target of 145.

Andrew Strauss’ 32 at the top of the order provided the only real resistance for an England side who looked hopelessly at sea against the spin of Rehman and Saeed Ajmal.

The world no.1 ranked side now face a possible humiliating 3-0 whitewash when they return to Dubai for the final Test, starting on 3 February.

England were probably slight favourites after Monty Panesar’s 6-62 helped them take the final five Pakistan wickets at the start of day four.

James Anderson dismissed top scorer Azhar Ali for 68 after taking the new ball and the last recognised batsman, wicket-keeper Adnan Akmal, followed in the next over, edging Stuart Broad to Strauss at slip.

Panesar and Graeme Swann took the last three wickets, Panesar completing a wonderful comeback with his ninth five-wicket haul in Tests.

England's pursuit of 145 was always going to be difficult on a pitch which encouraged slow scoring, but their openers began steadily, reaching 21 before Alastair Cook was caught and bowled by Mohammad Hafeez.

The breakthrough allowed Pakistan to turn the screws, and after Ian Bell - batting at three in place of the unwell Jonathan Trott - unluckily played onto his stumps off Ajmal, Rehman got stuck into the middle order.

Kevin Pietersen was trapped LBW - one of 17 such dismissals in the match, the second most in Test history - and Morgan was bowled attempting an ambitious cut shot to only his second ball.

Strauss had been lucky to survive a review for a short-leg catch earlier in his innings, but was unable to make the most of his good fortune and fell LBW to Rehman, a marginal decision which he unsuccessfully reviewed.

Trott was summoned from his sickbed but fell quickly to the brilliant Rehman, who reached his first Test five-wicket haul when he clean bowled Broad two balls later with a beauty which spun back between his bat and pad.

Swann, Matt Prior and Anderson then dropped like flies, as England's startling collapse to an inspired Pakistan was complete.