England left themselves with a mountain to climb in their series-deciding third Test against Pakistan as their fragile top-order failed to measure up to a defiant century from Saud Shakeel.
Shakeel produced a study in concentration and technical proficiency to change the complexion of the match, grinding out 134 priceless runs after being dropped on 26 by wicketkeeper Jamie Smith.
His efforts transformed Pakistan’s position as stands of 88 and 72 with tailenders Noman Ali and Sajid Khan put England through the wringer and left the hosts with a first-innings lead of 77.
Having watched Shakeel’s grit and determination carry his side to 344 all out, England staggered to 24 for three in just nine overs before stumps, Ben Duckett, Zak Crawley and the out-of-form Ollie Pope reduced to collateral damage.
Pakistan captain Shan Masood suggested at the start of the series that his side would try and match some of their opponents’ aggressive “Bazball” philosophy but Shakeel’s contribution was entirely lacking in pizzazz or showmanship.
He allowed himself just five boundaries in five hours at the crease, soaking up 223 deliveries and taking the game away from England with a steady stream of risk-free ones and twos.
Sajid took a more bombastic approach in his run-a-ball 48, unloading four sixes and thrashing extravagantly after the scores were levelled at tea.
Having scored just 75 in the afternoon session, Pakistan crashed 43 in the space of three overs shortly after the restart to crank up the pressure.
Perhaps the defining moment of the day came in the fifth over of the morning, Shoaib Bashir taking Shakeel’s outside edge only for the ball to ricochet off the tips of the keeper’s gloves.
Smith’s buccaneering 89 had dragged England’s back from the brink on day one but, for the second match in a row, an important chance had squirmed loose.
Bashir persevered and had Masood smartly held by Pope but Shakeel and Mohammad Rizwan trimmed the deficit to 116 before Rehan Ahmed entered the equation.
Held in reserve for the first 24 overs, he struck with his ninth ball as Rizwan hit fresh air with a sweep.
Eight months after his previous cap the 20-year-old made up for lost time, grabbing a second lbw in as many overs when he lined up Salman Agha in front of off.
By the time a googly darted back and bowled Aamer Jamal off the inside edge, the score had gone from 151 for four to 177 for seven.
England might even have been tempted to think they had broken the back of the resistance as they carried an 80-run advantage into lunch.
Instead they endured a joyless afternoon as Shakeel bedded down. Jack Leach and Bashir toiled away but lacked cutting edge as he tucked, steered and nudged his way to his century in 181 balls.
A first ball for part-time spinner Joe Root almost did for him, Ben Stokes just unable to make a diving catch at slip, and Bashir finally ended the partnership in the last over before tea as he trapped Noman in front of middle.
The scores were exactly level as Pakistan took tea at 267 for eight, but more pain was on the way.
Sajid exploded into life, smashing Bashir for three sixes in quick succession as the off-spinner shipped 30 in the last two overs of his spell. After a period of gentle progression, things had accelerated dramatically.
Sajid’s assault paused when a mis-hit ramp left him with a bloodied nose but there was time for one more six before England stemmed their own bleeding.
Gus Atkinson returned too late to the attack but finally drew an errant shot from Shakeel and Ahmed took his fourth with another googly.
That left England a brief window to bat but it was just enough time to dig themselves a serious hole.
Duckett was spared by the on-field umpire when Sajid had him plumb lbw for 12, but the impassioned appeal suggested the bowler knew he had his man and DRS quickly agreed.
Crawley was static on the crease as Noman got him lbw to make it four from four in their head-to-head battles.
Pope was next up and his painful trot continued, jabbing Noman to slip just before bad light intervened having contributed just one.
That took his series output to 55 in five innings and will do little to quell question marks over his seemingly rock solid grip on the number-three position.
England spinner Ahmed told Test Match Special: “Having three [wickets] down is never part of the plan and at one stage it looked like we could've got them just before they got a lead but it's cricket, things happen quickly.
“Obviously the momentum is with them at the moment but hopefully we can soak it up a bit tomorrow, put it back on them and try and get a lead and put them back in.”
If you go
Flights
Emirates flies from Dubai to Phnom Penh with a stop in Yangon from Dh3,075, and Etihad flies from Abu Dhabi to Phnom Penh with its partner Bangkok Airlines from Dh2,763. These trips take about nine hours each and both include taxes. From there, a road transfer takes at least four hours; airlines including KC Airlines (www.kcairlines.com) offer quick connecting flights from Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville from about $100 (Dh367) return including taxes. Air Asia, Malindo Air and Malaysian Airlines fly direct from Kuala Lumpur to Sihanoukville from $54 each way. Next year, direct flights are due to launch between Bangkok and Sihanoukville, which will cut the journey time by a third.
The stay
Rooms at Alila Villas Koh Russey (www.alilahotels.com/ kohrussey) cost from $385 per night including taxes.
Dubai World Cup factbox
Most wins by a trainer: Godolphin’s Saeed bin Suroor(9)
Most wins by a jockey: Jerry Bailey(4)
Most wins by an owner: Godolphin(9)
Most wins by a horse: Godolphin’s Thunder Snow(2)
Wenger's Arsenal reign in numbers
1,228 - games at the helm, ahead of Sunday's Premier League fixture against West Ham United.
704 - wins to date as Arsenal manager.
3 - Premier League title wins, the last during an unbeaten Invincibles campaign of 2003/04.
1,549 - goals scored in Premier League matches by Wenger's teams.
10 - major trophies won.
473 - Premier League victories.
7 - FA Cup triumphs, with three of those having come the last four seasons.
151 - Premier League losses.
21 - full seasons in charge.
49 - games unbeaten in the Premier League from May 2003 to October 2004.
Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
LILO & STITCH
Starring: Sydney Elizebeth Agudong, Maia Kealoha, Chris Sanders
Director: Dean Fleischer Camp
Rating: 4.5/5
'Panga'
Directed by Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari
Starring Kangana Ranaut, Richa Chadha, Jassie Gill, Yagya Bhasin, Neena Gupta
Rating: 3.5/5
APPLE IPAD MINI (A17 PRO)
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Biometrics: Touch ID, Face ID
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In the box: iPad mini, USB-C cable, 20W USB-C power adapter
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Nayanthara: Beyond The Fairy Tale
Starring: Nayanthara, Vignesh Shivan, Radhika Sarathkumar, Nagarjuna Akkineni
Director: Amith Krishnan
Rating: 3.5/5
The specs
Engine: Dual 180kW and 300kW front and rear motors
Power: 480kW
Torque: 850Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh359,900 ($98,000)
On sale: Now
Company profile
Company: Rent Your Wardrobe
Date started: May 2021
Founder: Mamta Arora
Based: Dubai
Sector: Clothes rental subscription
Stage: Bootstrapped, self-funded
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