Will Jacks delivered a crucial breakthrough for England in the Pakistan ODI Tri-Series 2026, bowling Babar Azam with a sharp-turning off-break in the 14th over of the second match. Babar, who scored 34 off 52 balls, was beaten by the delivery’s movement as it slipped beneath his bat and crashed into the off-stump. The dismissal left Pakistan under pressure and increased the responsibility on other batters to steady the innings.
Will Jacks gets the better of Babar Azam with a sharp off-break
The dismissal was a testament to Jacks’ control and ability to exploit Babar’s discomfort against off-spin. The England all-rounder tossed the ball up and generated enough turn to deceive one of Pakistan’s most dependable batters.
Babar appeared committed to playing off the back foot, but the ball spun back into him more sharply than anticipated. He failed to bring his bat down in time, leaving a gap for the delivery to sneak through and disturb the stumps.
The moment gave England a significant advantage in the middle overs. Babar was looking settled at the crease, striking four boundaries during his 52-ball stay, but he could not convert his start into a substantial score.
Here’s the video:
BABAR AZAM DISMISSED FOR 34!
His reflexes are completely finished. Soo poor! pic.twitter.com/WwnFZ5m3EM
— Mian Ahmad (@MianAhmad_56) October 20, 2026
For Jacks, the wicket was a valuable reward for maintaining pressure and forcing Babar to play a difficult shot. It also highlighted the importance of spin in breaking partnerships during the middle phase of an ODI innings.
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Babar’s dismissal puts Pakistan under pressure
Babar’s wicket was particularly important because Pakistan needed their senior batters to build a solid platform. His departure left the hosts with another rebuilding task, increasing the pressure on the remaining middle order.
Although Babar did not scored at a particularly rapid rate, his presence offered Pakistan stability after the early exchanges. He is often expected to anchor the innings while other batters play around him, making his dismissal a setback for the team’s plans.
By the end of the 33rd over, Pakistan were 170/5 with Hasan Nawaz unbeaten on 60 after facing 51 deliveries and Arafat Minhas batting on 8 at a strike rate of just 53.33.
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