Twitter Reactions: England on brink of series whitewash after Rehan Ahmed's glittering debut in Karachi

Ben Stokes' mercurial English side are on the brink of a historic series whitewash after a dominating display on the third day of the final Test in Karachi. The visitors ran riot with the ball thanks to their two star spinners Jack Leach and Rehan Ahmed, with the latter becoming the youngest debutant to scalp a five-for. Ben Duckett registered a belligerent half-century in the fourth innings as England threatened to chase the target in record time.

The English openers came out with one thing on their minds, finishing the match on the third day itself. And it did look likely after Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett compiled a swashbuckling 87-run stand for the first wicket inside 12 overs. However, a couple of quick wickets and the fading light helped Pakistan postpone the inevitable for the fourth day of the third Test in Karachi.

The home side started the day on a bright note, with both openers largely untroubled at the crease. But the game took an interesting turn after the introduction of Jack Leach into the attack. The willy spinner deflated the hosts with a superb double wicket maiden as Pakistan's Azhar Ali walked off the pitch with a four-ball duck to his name on his swansong. 

Rehan Ahmed etches his name into the history books 

Leach wasn't done with the hosts just yet as he dismissed Abdullah Shafique in his very next over to take three wickets within six deliveries, sending the Pakistani innings into a tailspin. The home side were in a pickle and needed heroics from their two best batters in the series, Babar Azam and Saud Shakeel. 

The duo added a valiant 110-run stand for the fourth wicket, keeping the relentless visitors at bay. However, the game witnessed another masterclass in spin bowling from the 18-year-old debutant Rehan Ahmed. Babar was his first victim after falling to a loose shot, and the leggie broke the back of the Pakistani innings by getting rid of Shakeel soon after.

Agha Salman provided resistance for the hosts lower down the order, but he never found any support from the other end as the home side were bundled out for 216 runs, setting a target of 167 runs for England. Rehan Ahmed grabbed a glittering five-wicket haul on debut, becoming the youngest player to achieve that feat in Test cricket history. His father, present in the stands in Karachi, enjoyed the moment with tears of joy running down his cheek.

Here is how Twitter reacted to England's domination of Pakistan on the third day in Karachi: