England fought hard to secure a solid position at the end of day one in the series-deciding third Test against Pakistan in Rawalpindi, with the hosts reduced to 73-3 in response to England’s 266.
Jamie Smith played a crucial knock, scoring an impressive 89 from 119 balls, rescuing England from a precarious 118-6 after they collapsed by losing four wickets for just 28 runs before lunch. Captain Ben Stokes (12) was also dismissed shortly after the interval, adding to England’s woes.
In the evening session, Shoaib Bashir, Jack Leach, and Gus Atkinson each took a wicket to disrupt Pakistan’s innings.
The preparation of the Rawalpindi pitch had been a key topic leading up to the Test, with Pakistan aiming for a turning track similar to the one used in Multan, where they had leveled the series with a convincing win. While a few deliveries turned and kept low, Ben Duckett (52) was unlucky to be trapped lbw at ankle height after scoring a half-century. England’s total of 267 seemed below par until they made crucial breakthroughs with the ball late in the day.
Duckett and Zak Crawley (29) gave England a positive start, putting on 56 for the first wicket. However, Noman Ali (3-88) sparked a collapse as Ollie Pope (3), Joe Root (5), and Harry Brook (5) all fell cheaply, with Sajid Khan (6-128) wreaking havoc.
Stokes became Sajid’s fourth victim shortly after lunch, but Smith and Gus Atkinson mounted a superb recovery with a 105-run partnership for the seventh wicket. Smith hit six sixes and five boundaries before he was dismissed 11 runs shy of a century, while Atkinson contributed with a brisk 35.
Pakistan’s reply stumbled early as Bashir, Leach, and Atkinson each struck to leave them at 46-3. However, Shan Masood (16) and Saud Shakeel (16) saw off the remainder of the day, setting up an intriguing contest as the Test heads into day two.
The series is finely poised, with both teams battling for the win in the final Test.
