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On the third morning, Sajid Khan took seven wickets to help Pakistan finish England’s innings in under an hour, taking a 75-run lead into the first session.
Sajid, who had destroyed England with four wickets in the second day’s evening session, took three of the final four wickets. Pakistan’s lead was only threatened by a last-wicket stand of 29, which was the fourth-highest of the innings. The second bowler who had an impact was Noman Ali, who claimed his 50th wicket in a Test match while Jamie Smith, England’s final recognised batsman, attempted to hit out with the tail.
Sajid was soon causing trepidation among the poorer classes in England. After seeing an inside edge fall in front of the short leg, Brydon Carse attempted driving and sweeping without much success. He then attempted to go aerial, but instead struck Sajid in the throat with a long-on blow. In the subsequent over delivered by the offspinner, Carse’s Durham teammate Matthew Potts was bowled through his legs after getting entangled in his stumps.
Smith felt it was time to switch gears with Jack Leach by his side. However, their collaboration lasted for just eight balls as Smith was comfortably held at long-off while attempting to propel Noman through the air.
Shoaib Bashir and Leach chipped away in a valuable last-wicket stand, but England had lost 3 for 14 and the margin was still three figures. Leach did a good job of slog-sweeping Noman, then Bashir trapped Sajid with a deep backward square leg boundary before he could even toe-end a swipe over the line to short midwicket, giving Sajid the highest innings stats of any bowler at Multan.