DUBAI, Feb 6: Pakistan’s bowlers sealed an emphatic 71-run win in the third and final Test against England here on Monday, wrapping up Jazz Cup series whitewash (3-0) in the process.

Set a daunting 324-run target, England were bowled out for 252 with paceman Umar Gul taking 4-61 and off-spinner Saeed Ajmal 4-67 to help Pakistan achieve a first-ever Test clean sweep against their opponents.

With the ball turning again it was always going to be a difficult task for England’s batsmen, who have struggled to play the Pakistani spinners throughout the series, on a weary fourth day pitch at Dubai International Cricket Stadium.

Pakistan won the first Test here by 10 wickets and the second by 72 runs in Abu Dhabi.

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 Headingley.

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.

So dominating have been Pakistanis spinners that Saeed finished the series with 24 and Rehman with 19.

England, 89-2 at lunch, were still in with a chance with Alastair Cook (49) and Kevin Pietersen (18) batting well but they lost four wickets in the space of 84 runs. They went to tea at 173-6.

Pietersen, who struggled for runs in the series, hit Abdul Rehman for a boundary and then hoisted him for a six to post England’s 100. But Saeed struck from the other end.

The off-spinner produced a beautiful delivery to bowl Pietersen through the gate for 18. He had a mere 67 runs for the series during which he was out to spinners on five occasions.

In his next over, Saeed 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.

Ian Bell (10) and Eoin Morgan (31) added 37 for the fifth wicket but again failed to produce a big score in the series as Umar Gul dismissed them in the space of just three runs.

Pakistan took the second new ball at 196-6 and the first ball saw Gul dismissing Stuart Broad (18) and then Graeme Swann on one.

Matt Prior remained not out at 49 when Monty Panesar was dismissed by Rehman for nine.

England had looked for big partnerships after resuming at 36-0 but that never transpired.

Pakistan could have wrapped the match earlier had they not dropped two crucial catches, the first off England captain Andrew Strauss on 26 when wicket-keeper Adnan Akmal grassed a simple chance off Umar Gul.

But that didn’t hurt Pakistan as Rehman trapped the England captain in the very next over. Strauss challenged the decision by Australian umpire Steve Davis but his review failed.

Umar Gul then let off Cook at 24 when he failed to hold a top-edge sweep off Rehman.

Cook had also benefited from a dropped catch on Saturday when Taufiq Umar let him off in the third slip off a miscued drive off Umar Gul
when he was four.

Saeed then broke a dangerous looking 37-run stand between Cook and Jonathan Trott (18) by forcing a top-edge sweep which was smartly snapped up by Rehman at square-leg.

On Sunday, Azhar Ali hit a career-best 157 and Younis 127 in Pakistan’s second innings total of 365.

Pakistan were well placed at 331-4 before losing their last seven wickets for a mere 34 runs following good bowling from England spinners Monty Panesar (5-124) and Graeme Swann, (3-101).

Pakistan owed their total to a brilliant career-best knock by Azhar and Younis. Together they added 216 for the third wicket in a frustrating stand which plunged England into submission.

Azhar became the ninth wicket to fall, when he gave a bat-pad catch to Cook at short-leg off Swann. He hit 10 boundaries and six during his long stay at the crease which was seven minutes short of nine hours.

“We showed the world again that we are a power in the cricketing world,” said Misbah, 37.

“Now, it’s time to give importance to the Pakistan team again.”

“You can’t keep away a nation from international cricket after this performance. The whole world, the ICC, the playing nations should think about it and revive our international cricket.

England captain Andrew Strauss admitted that batting had let down his side.

“We didn’t bat well in all three Tests, to be honest with ourselves. If you keep getting out for 140 or 150 then you are not going to win many Test matches,” said Strauss.

Strauss praised Pakistan, especially their spinners Saeed Ajmal who took 24 wickets in the series and Abdul Rehman who finished with 18.
He denied his team ever took Pakistan lightly.—Agencies

Scoreboard

PAKISTAN (1st Innings) 99 (Asad Shafiq 45; S.C.J. Broad 4-36, J.M. Anderson 3-35).
ENGLAND (1st Innings) 141 (A.J. Strauss 56; Abdul Rehman 5-40, Saeed Ajmal 3-59).
PAKISTAN (2nd Innings):
Mohammad Hafeez lbw b Panesar    21
Taufiq Umar c Strauss b Anderson    6
Azhar Ali c Cook b Swann    157
Younis Khan lbw b Broad    127
Misbah-ul-Haq lbw b Panesar    31
Asad Shafiq lbw b Panesar    5
Adnan Akmal b Panesar    0
Abdul Rehman c Anderson b Swann    1
Saeed Ajmal c Anderson b Swann    1
Umar Gul lbw b Panesar    4
Aizaz Cheema not out    0
EXTRAS (B-1, LB-10, NB-1)    12
TOTAL (all out, 152.4 overs)     365
FALL OF WKTS: 1-16, 2-28, 3-244, 4-331, 5-339, 6-345, 7-346, 8-350, 9-363.
BOWLING: Anderson 28-7-51-1 (1nb); Broad 24-7-55-1; Panesar 56.4-13-124-5; Swann 39-6-101-3; Trott 2-0-14-0; Pietersen 3-0-9-0.
ENGLAND (2nd Innings, overnight 36-0):
A.J. Strauss lbw b Rehman    26
A.N. Cook c Younis b Saeed    49
I.J.L. Trott c Rehman b Saeed    18
K.P. Pietersen b Saeed    18
I.R. Bell c Asad b Umar Gul    10
E.J.G. Morgan c Adnan b Umar Gul    31
M.J. Prior not out    49
S.C.J. Broad c Taufiq b Umar Gul    18
G.P. Swann c Asad b Umar Gul    1
J.M. Anderson c Younis b Saeed    9
M.S. Panesar lbw b Rehman    8
EXTRAS (B-4, LB-8, NB-3)    15
TOTAL (all out, 97.3 overs)    252
FALL OF WKTS: 1-48, 2-85, 3-116, 4-119, 5-156, 6-159, 7-196, 8-203, 9-237.
BOWLING: Umar Gul 20-5-61-4 (2nb); Aizaz Cheema 4-0-9-0; Mohammad Hafeez 5-2-6-0; Abdul Rehman 41.3-10-97-2; Saeed Ajmal
27-9-67-4.
RESULT: Pakistan won by 71 runs to win series 3-0.
UMPIRES: S.J. Davis and S.J.A. Taufel (both Australia).
TV UMPIRE: S.K. Tarapore (India).
MATCH REFEREE: J.J. Crowe (New Zealand).
MAN-OF-THE-MATCH: Azhar Ali.
MAN-OF-THE-SERIES: Saeed Ajmal.
FIRST TEST: Dubai, Pakistan won by 10 wickets.
SECOND TEST: Abu Dhabi, Pakistan won by 72 runs.