Rawalpindi (Web Desk): On the first day of the crucial third Test in Rawalpindi, Pakistan spinner Sajid Khan delivered an outstanding performance, bagging six wickets as England were all out for 267 after opting to bat.
Sajid’s final figures of 6 for 128 were bolstered by Noman Ali’s 3 for 88.
England faced a tough start, finding themselves at 110 for 5 at lunch. However, Jamie Smith’s resilient innings of 89 helped them surpass the 250 mark. Smith, who struck six sixes and five fours, fell just short of a century when he was caught attempting a slog against Zahid Mahmood.
By tea, England had reached 242 for 8, adding 132 runs after a rocky beginning. Rehan Ahmed and Jack Leach were batting with scores of two and one, respectively.
After the break, England lost their captain Ben Stokes early on, caught off Sajid for 12. Smith and Gus Atkinson, who scored 39, put together a crucial 105-run partnership for the seventh wicket.
Sajid and Noman dominated the morning session, bowling a remarkable 42 consecutive overs. At that point, Sajid had figures of 4 for 117, while Noman had 3 for 79.
England started strongly with Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett racing to 56 runs, but the momentum shifted quickly as they lost Crawley (29), Ollie Pope (3), and Joe Root (5) within just 24 runs. Noman dismissed Crawley, while Sajid accounted for Pope and Root.
Duckett managed to notch a half-century off 76 balls before being trapped leg-before by Noman for 52. Sajid also bowled out Harry Brook for just five runs, contributing to England's struggles.
Both teams fielded three spinners on a dry, grassless pitch that had been treated with fans and heaters prior to the match.
Sajid and Noman had previously taken all 20 wickets in Pakistan's victory in the second Test, leveling the series 1-1 after England's first Test win by an innings in Multan.
Playing XIs
Pakistan: Saim Ayub, Abdullah Shafique, Shan Masood (C), Kamran Ghulam, Saud Shakeel (VC), Mohammad Rizwan (WK), Salman Ali Agha, Aamir Jamal, Noman Ali, Sajid Khan, Zahid Mehmood.
England: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (C), Jamie Smith, Gus Atkinson, Rehan Ahmed, Jack Leach and Shoaib Bashir.
