Pakistan vs England, 3rd Test Day 1, Highlights: Pakistan ended Day 1 on 73/3, after bundling out England for 267 in the series-deciding third Test in Rawalpindi. Captain Shan Masood and Saud Shakeel stayed unbeaten at Stumps. Earlier, Sajid Khan, who'd picked up nine wickets in the second Test, starred with the ball again, picking up six wickets. He was well-supported by Noman Ali, who got three. England's only notable contributions with the bat came from wicket-keeper batter Jamie Smith (89) and opener Ben Duckett (52). (Scorecard)
Pak vs ENG 3rd Test Day 1, Live Updates
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Welcome back for England's reply! They are currently trailing by 77 runs and would hope to end the day with no wickets loss. The umpires and the players are out in the middle. Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett are the two openers for the England. Saim Ayub has the new ball in hand and is raring to go. Let's play...
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... THIRD INNINGS ...
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For England, the young Rehan Ahmed was the standout performer, delivering four key breakthroughs at crucial moments to keep the hosts on the back foot. Shoaib Bashir and Gus Atkinson also toiled hard, picking up three and two wickets respectively while Jack Leach took one. With a 77-run lead, Pakistan will aim to carry their momentum forward and seek early breakthroughs to put England under pressure. On the other hand, England will look for a solid start, determined to wrestle their way back into the contest and shift the momentum in their favour. England's replay with the bat to follow!
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England came out with renewed energy on Day 2, bowling with precision and discipline, never allowing the batters to settle. The pressure told when Mohammad Rizwan fell, and a couple of quick wickets followed, leaving the hosts in deeper trouble. But Saud Shakeel stood firm, showing great composure under pressure and notching up his century. He found a valuable ally in Noman Ali, and together they chipped away at the deficit, frustrating England and shifting some of the pressure back onto the visitors with a strong 88-run partnership. Sajid Khan then came in all guns blazing, adding quick, valuable runs with aggressive intent to push Pakistan’s lead to 77 runs, a position that seemed unlikely at one stage before England wrapped things up.
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Pakistan finish their innings on a high, adding crucial runs at the tail end! The lower order stepped up just in time, with the tail wagging enough to push the total and secure a vital 77-run lead, a monumental achievement considering how things unfolded earlier. After a steady start, Pakistan’s momentum was derailed by the loss of three quick wickets, giving England the upper hand early in the contest. However, Saud Shakeel and Shan Masood fought back with a determined partnership, ensuring no further damage before stumps on Day 1, with Pakistan still trailing by 194 runs.
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96.4WRehan Ahmed to
OUT! TIMBER! Well, that's why Sajid Khan was denying the single to Zahid Mahmood. Wrong'un, pitching outside off and turning back in viciously. Zahid Mahmood plays a textbook front foot defensive stroke only to get on the inside. The ball sneaks through and clatters into off. Pakistan manages to score 344 in their first innings and they now lead in this game by 77 runs.
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96.31Rehan Ahmed to
Fuller, on off. Sajid Khan chips this over cover and calls for two straightaway but settles for one.
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96.20Rehan Ahmed to
Short of a length around off, Sajid Khan dabs this through backward point and denies the single on offer.
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96.16Rehan Ahmed to
SIX! There is no stopping Sajid now. Tossed up around middle and off, Sajid Khan jumps down the track and swings. Connects well and the ball sails over the long on fielder for a huge hit. Six more runs added to the total.
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Zahid Mahmood is the last batter in.
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95.6WGus Atkinson to
OUT! IN THE AIR AND GONE! The demons of facing a pacer come back to haunt Saud Shakeel as Gus Atkinson cuts his excellent inning short. Short-pitched around middle and off, Saud Shakeel gets caught in two mind on either going for the pull or just playing the short arm jab. Ends up with a lob straight in the hands of short mid-wicket fielder. Matthew Potts settles well underneath it and takes it with ease.
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95.51Gus Atkinson to
and Sajid Khan pushes this away for a single.
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95.42Gus Atkinson to
TWO BYES! Good length, down the leg. Sajid Khan leaves it and Jamie Smith fails to gather this. The ball rolls underneath the keeper and the batters cross for two.
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95.31Gus Atkinson to
Short and wide outside off, Saud Shakeel cuts this through point for a single.
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95.20Gus Atkinson to
Back of a length around off, Saud Shakeel blocks this out off his front foot.
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Slight delay in proceedings as Sajid Khan is down again maybe it has something to do with the extremely hot and humid conditions in Rawalpindi.
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95.10Gus Atkinson to
Good length around middle and off, Saud Shakeel punches this on off for no run.
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94.61Jack Leach to
Yet another single as Saud Shakeel drills this to long on for one. Pakistan now leads by 66 runs!
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94.51Jack Leach to
Fuller around the pads, Sajid Khan tucks this towards the leg for a single.
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94.41Jack Leach to
Quicker and flatter on off, Saud Shakeel dabs this towards point and runs one.