Birmingham (Web Desk): Pakistan’s batting order collapsed dramatically as they were dismissed for 133 in their first innings of the third Test against England at Edgbaston on Wednesday, continuing a difficult run with the bat during their England tour.
Having been put in to bat, Pakistan lost their first wicket in the third over when Ollie Robinson trapped Saim Ayub in front of the stumps. The returning opener failed to score, departing after facing just 10 deliveries.
England quickly tightened their grip on the innings, with Jofra Archer claiming the wicket of Azan Awais. The opener made nine runs from 20 balls, including two fours, before Pakistan were reduced to 14 for two in the sixth over.
Robinson then produced another breakthrough by removing Abdullah Shafique, who managed only three runs from 16 balls. Archer struck once more in the following over, sending former captain Shan Masood back for five off seven deliveries as Pakistan slipped to 28 for four.
The pressure intensified in the 15th over when Josh Tongue bowled Pakistan captain Babar Azam for seven. Babar faced 18 balls and hit just one boundary before his departure left the visitors struggling at 48 for five.
Test debutant wicketkeeper-batter Ghazi Ghori attempted to settle the innings, beginning his Test career with a boundary off Tongue. His contribution, however, lasted only five balls as the England seamer dismissed him for four, registering his second wicket.
Pakistan soon lost another debutant when Imran Randhawa was removed by Tongue, who completed his third dismissal of the innings. Pakistan were now seven wickets down for 84 after 20.4 overs.
Following lunch, Razaullah managed to contribute 11 runs before Robinson accounted for him, leaving Pakistan at 101 for eight. Saud Shakeel tried to keep the innings alive with an attacking 43 from 47 balls, but his dismissal at 107 put Pakistan on the verge of being bowled out.
Mohammad Abbas and Mohammad Ali then gave Pakistan a late boost by putting together 26 runs for the final wicket. Their resistance ended when Archer dismissed Abbas, completing Pakistan’s innings at 133.
Tongue emerged as England’s most successful bowler with four wickets, while Archer and Robinson finished with three wickets each as England’s pace attack dismantled Pakistan’s batting lineup.