Rawalpindi, October 24, 2024 – Pakistan found themselves in a precarious position at 73/3 by the end of the first day of the decisive third Test against England, despite an earlier strong showing that restricted the visitors to a modest 267. The day’s play saw both teams trading punches, with England’s Jamie Smith leading a spirited fightback before Pakistan’s top order faltered in response.
After winning the toss, England captain Ben Stokes’s decision to bat first seemed ill-advised as his team crumbled to 118-6 in the morning session. Pakistan’s spinners, Sajid Khan and Noman Ali, wreaked havoc on a turning track, tearing through the English top order. Sajid’s exceptional figures of 6-128 and Noman’s disciplined 3-88 exposed England’s vulnerability to spin, as the hosts capitalized on a spin-friendly surface from the outset.
England’s openers, Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley, provided a brief respite with a 56-run stand, but the partnership was short-lived. Crawley (29) fell victim to Noman’s guile, lured into a mistimed drive, while Duckett (52) was undone by a delivery that kept low, trapping him leg before wicket. England’s batting frailties were further highlighted when Sajid dismissed Joe Root, the world’s top-ranked Test batter, for just five, trapping him leg-before with a viciously turning delivery.
As England teetered on the brink of collapse, Jamie Smith staged a defiant counter-attack. His blistering 89, studded with six sixes, dragged England back into the contest, forming a crucial 105-run partnership with Gus Atkinson (39). Smith’s aggressive approach, coupled with Atkinson’s steady resolve, ensured England reached a competitive 267 before Pakistan wrapped up the innings.
In response, Pakistan’s innings started cautiously, but England’s bowlers quickly found breakthroughs. Off-spinner Shoaib Bashir dismissed Abdullah Shafique for 14, while Jack Leach removed Saim Ayub. The pressure mounted further when Gus Atkinson struck again, clean-bowling Kamran Ghulam, who had scored a century on his debut in Multan. By stumps, Pakistan had slumped to 73/3, still trailing by 194 runs, with captain Shan Masood and Saud Shakeel both unbeaten on 16.
Pakistan will need a disciplined batting effort to claw their way back into the match on Day 2, as England look to press home their advantage after regaining momentum with both bat and ball. The stage is set for a gripping second day, with the series and the Test hanging in the balance.