PAKISTAN spinners Sajid Khan and Noman Ali claimed five wickets between them, leaving England struggling at 110-5 by lunch on the first day of the series-deciding third Test in Rawalpindi on Thursday.
At the break, Ben Stokes and Jamie Smith were batting on six and five respectively. England had earlier won the toss and chosen to bat first.
Pakistan opened the bowling with Sajid and Noman, taking advantage of a dry pitch that offered spin and low bounce from the start.
Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett gave England a strong start, reaching 56 quickly, but the team then lost three wickets for just 24 runs. Crawley was dismissed for 29, Ollie Pope managed only three, and Joe Root fell for five.
Noman had Crawley caught off a misjudged drive, while Sajid trapped both Pope and Root leg-before.
Duckett, who completed his half-century from 76 balls, was also dismissed by Noman, trapped leg-before for 52 after hitting four boundaries and a six.
Harry Brook, who had scored a triple century in the first Test, was bowled by Sajid for five after missing a sweep shot, lasting only 14 balls.
Sajid and Noman bowled throughout the morning session, with Sajid finishing on 3-55 and Noman taking 2-53.
Both teams had fielded three spinners on a dry, grassless pitch that the hosts had dried out using fans and heaters before the match. Sajid and Noman had also taken all 20 wickets in Pakistan’s victory in the second Test, which leveled the series after England won the first Test by an innings in Multan.
(With inputs from AFP)
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