15 Aug 2016

Pakistan level series with emphatic win

9:04 am on 15 August 2016

Leg-spinner Yasir Shah took five wickets to help Pakistan crush England by 10 wickets in the final test at The Oval and level a fluctuating series 2-2.

Yasir Shah lodges an appeal.

Leg-spinner Yasir Shah Photo: Photosport

The touring side bowled England out for 253 in their second innings, Shah completing figures of 5-71, before Azhar Ali and Sami Aslam eased them to a simple target of 40 in 13.1 overs to complete an emphatic win.

"It was special, keeping in mind it was Independence Day, it was something special to draw the series here after being 2-1 down, losing the second test badly and losing the third," Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq told the BBC.

"But the way the team fought back, I'm a really happy captain."

England had resumed on 88 for four and Gary Ballance soon fell for 17 but Jonny Bairstow and Moeen Ali shared a sixth-wicket partnership of 65 to give the hosts hoping of saving the match.

Shortly before lunch, however, Shah deceived Moeen with a quicker delivery and the left-hander, on 32, nicked another catch to a gleeful Sarfraz.

Chris Woakes was run out following a mix-up with Bairstow, who drove the next delivery from Wahab Riaz straight to extra cover, his departure for 81 ending any realistic chance of England saving the match.

Meanwhile, Australia have enjoyed their best batting session of the series with Sri Lanka as they fight their way back into the third Test in Colombo.

At stumps on day two the tourists are 141 for 1 in reply to the home side's first-innings 355 to leave the match evenly poised.

Shaun Marsh justified the selectors' decision to pick him in place of Joe Burns at the top of the order, providing patience and stability in his 64 not out.

Skipper Steve Smith was back to his industrious best and is unbeaten on 61.

In the first innings of the last Test in Galle, Australia were bowled out inside 34 overs.

At Sinhalese Sports Club they were much more assured on an even drier wicket that was expected to be perfectly suited to the hosts' three spinners.

Marsh and Smith's partnership is worth 120 and easily surpassed the previous highest Australian partnership of the series, which was 60 between Adam Voges and Mitch Marsh in Kandy.

It was just what Australia needed following the heavy second-Test defeat and especially after losing David Warner in the fourth over.