Pakistan completed a 10-wicket win on Sunday (August 14) in the final Test at The Oval to square the series 2-2. The win also extended Pakistan's record against the hosts at this venue, much to the delight of their fans who had assembled in the ground on their independence day. England have now failed to beat Pakistan in this venue in their last seven Test matches.
Yasir Shah, who already had three wickets to his name, picked two more to finish with a five-wicket haul as England were bowled out for 253 after lunch. Chasing just 40 runs to win the game, the Pakistan openers brushed aside the target in 13.1 overs.
With the home side's two batting mainstays Alastair Cook and Joe Root back in the hut before stumps on day three, there was a hint of uncertainty around England's approach on the fourth day, with Pakistan still holding a lead of 126 runs. The hosts understandably decided to take a positive approach in order to wipe out the deficit and give their bowlers something to defend.
Gary Ballance showed intent by hitting the second ball of the day for a boundary. Both Ballance and Bairstow then picked up a few singles and twos before the latter finally found his groove. He was severe through the covers region as he fetched a couple of boundaries off Wahab Riaz and one more off Mohammad Amir. With England slowly gaining momentum, Pakistan had another issue to deal with as the umpire warned Wahab for the second time for running on to the danger area.
Against the run of play, Sohail Khan came on to get rid of Ballance, who was looking solid until then. A delivery just outside off could have been left alone to the keeper but the left-hander gently poked at it to be caught behind. The in-form Moeen Ali began with a bang as he clipped his first delivery for a boundary on the leg side. As Bairstow reached his half-century off 72 balls, Moeen went after the bowling at the other end. After reverse sweeping Yasir for a boundary, he also hit him for a huge six over long on in the leg spinner's next over. Bairstow soon joined in the act before lunch with a couple of boundaries off Amir as England were all set to erase the deficit.
To their disappointment, Yasir got rid of Moeen for 32 in the penultimate over before the session break to put his side on top again. The hosts faced a tall task after lunch as they were still trailing by 20 runs with only four wickets in hand. The home crowd that perhaps anticipated a spirited fight was left disappointed as Woakes and Bairstow were dismissed off back-to-back deliveries when England still trailed by five.
Woakes was first run out after Wahab effected a direct hit off his own bowling. The breakthrough made an impact on Bairstow's concentration, as the batsman hit one straight to cover to end hopes of a comeback. He walked back dejected for 81 as the tail added a few more in the end and ensured Pakistan came out to bat again.
Sami Aslam and Azhar Ali added 16 before the umpires decided to take the Tea break. Steven Finn had to walk back after a hamstring injury and Cook took no further risks, with the result being a foregone conclusion. Joe Root and Moeen Ali bowled after the break as the openers finished off the chase.
England will now reflect and introspect on their poor batting performance in the first innings when their top order collapsed on a good-looking batsman-friendly surface, and had to rely on the lower middle order yet again to bail them out. Veteran Younis Khan was adjudged player of the match for his brilliant double ton in Pakistan's first innings which set the tone for the win as his side took a 214-run lead.
Brief scores: Pakistan 542 (Younis Khan 218; Chris Woakes 3-82) & 42/0 (Azhar Ali 30*) beat England 328 (Moeen Ali 108; Sohail Khan 5-68) & 253 (Jonny Bairstow 81; Yasir Shah 5-71) by 10 wickets
