Pakistan bowled out England for 267 runs on Day 1 of their Test match, with off-spinner Sajid Khan leading the charge by claiming six wickets for 128 runs in a stellar performance.
The final wicket fell when Jack Leach was stumped by Mohammad Rizwan off Sajid's delivery after scoring 16 runs off 21 balls.
The English innings saw moments of resistance but were marred by several soft dismissals, with the team’s total considered by many to be below par on a first-day pitch. Despite reaching 267, England's aggressive approach backfired at times, with Pakistan’s bowlers capitalizing on their errors. Sajid Khan's skillful spell was complemented by Noman Ali, who also made crucial breakthroughs, taking 3 wickets for 88 runs.
Leach’s dismissal marked the end of the innings after 68.2 overs, with a quick stumping from Rizwan off a slower, shorter delivery from Sajid, bringing England's innings to a close.
Pakistan will now look to respond with the bat, aiming to surpass England’s total and take control of the match.
Experts, including former cricketer Mike Atherton, pointed out the visible cracks on the pitch, predicting that it might become more challenging for batsmen as the match progresses. Despite these conditions, both teams expect a high-scoring game early on, reminiscent of their previous encounter on the same ground two years ago, where both sides racked up over 500 runs in their first innings.
England's lineup includes Gus Atkinson, replacing Matt Potts, while Pakistan remains unchanged, relying on a spin-heavy attack featuring Zahid Mahmood, Noman Ali, and Sajid Khan.
With the series tied 1-1, this match could determine the future for several players on both sides, as fans eagerly await what could be a thrilling contest over the next five days.
Pakistan: 1 Saim Ayub, 2 Abdullah Shafique, 3 Shan Masood (capt), 4 Kamran Ghulam, 5 Saud Shakeel, 6 Mohammad Rizwan (wk), 7 Salman Agha, 8 Aamer Jamal, 9 Sajid Khan, 10 Noman Ali, 11 Zahid Mehmood
