On the first day of the third Test in Rawalpindi, England scored 267 runs in their initial innings, led by Jamie Smith with 89 runs.
Pakistan concluded the day at 73/3 after 23 overs, trailing by 194 runs. England’s bowlers, including Shoaib Bashir and Gus Atkinson, secured crucial early wickets, placing Pakistan in a challenging position.
The latest dismissal was Kamran Ghulam, bowled by Atkinson for just three runs off nine balls. Despite the top order’s struggles, Captain Shan Masood and Saud Shakeel remained at the crease, endeavouring to stabilize the innings.
Earlier, opener Saim Ayub was caught from Jack Leach’s delivery for 19 runs, while Abdullah Shafique fell to Bashir for 14 runs. Pakistan’s bowlers, led by Sajid Khan with six wickets and supported by Noman Ali with three, showcased a strong performance. Zahid Mahmood also contributed with one wicket.
Jamie Smith nearly reached a century, scoring 91 runs, but fell to Mahmood. Gus Atkinson’s 39-run effort ended, breaking a forming partnership crucial for England. Ollie Pope, dismissed LBW by Sajid Khan, scored only three runs after a hesitant review.
Ben Duckett and Joe Root were dismissed LBW, scoring 52 and five runs, respectively. Zak Crawley was caught by Saim Ayub off Noman Ali’s bowling, scoring 43 runs.
Read: England vs Pakistan: Final Test Showdown in Rawalpindi
After winning the toss, England opted to bat, aiming for a commanding score to pressure Pakistan in a series-deciding match. Despite Pakistan’s preference to bat first, Captain Shan Masood remained optimistic about their bowling strategy’s potential to curb England’s batsmen. The match, with the series tied at 1-1, is pivotal for both teams.
