Pakistan secure series whitewash

Date released: 6 February 2012

Umar Gul's spell inspired Pakistan to victory on day four

England slumped to defeat in the third Test in Dubai, as Umar Gul and Saeed Ajmal inspired Pakistan to a 3-0 series whitewash.

Matt Prior’s 49 not out and 49 from Alastair Cook slowed Pakistan’s victory march, but another disappointing display from the top order typified England’s dismal tour.

Gul took 4-62 in a superb display either side of the Tea interval, dismissing Eoin Morgan and Ian Bell just before the break and returning to add Stuart Broad and Graeme Swann to his tally after the interval.

Abdur Rehman sparked jubilation for the Pakistan camp when he had Monty Panesar dismissed LBW in the last half hour of the day.

Crumbling empire

England began the day with all ten wickets in hand and outside hopes of salvaging a victory from a Test which started with their bowlers dismissing Pakistan for just 99 on day one.

Cook and Andrew Strauss took the score to a cautious 48 before Strauss was LBW to Abdur Rehman.

Jonathan Trott played with typical control as he and Cook tiptoed toward Lunch, but after a period of five consecutive maidens, Trott’s patience ran out and he top edged a sweep off Saeed Ajmal to deep-square-leg.

Kevin Pietersen was next to go, misreading Ajmal’s off break as a doosra on 18 and being clean bowled to end a poor trip for England’s number four.

Morgan once again looked to regain form by playing some attacking shots - including a well hit straight six - as he and Ian Bell began to rebuild the innings.

But Gul returned to put the game beyond doubt with a brilliant spell.

Morgan nicked through to the wicket-keeper Ajmal off a delivery which lifted outside his off stump before the out-of-form Bell spooned a terrible long-hop straight to point, summing up his dismal tour.

After Tea the dangerous lower-order pair of Broad and Swann also fell quickly to the paceman, before handing over to the spin bowlers to finish off Anderson and Panesar.

Pakistan were understandably delighted with a series win which will eradicate memories of their calamitous tour to England in 2010.

Under Misbah-ul-Haq's leadership they are now arguably the in-form team in Test cricket, and seem braced for a return to the top table of international sides after a disappointing few seasons.

England meanwhile face four ODIs and three Twenty20s in the UAE, before a tricky two-Test trip to Sri Lanka in March and are in danger of losing their ICC No.1 Test ranking if South Africa beat New Zealand.