The first day of the 3rd Test concluded with England ahead by 194 runs, boasting a score of 267 against Pakistan’s 73-3. The leading run scorers were J Smith with 89 and B Duckett with 52, while G Atkinson also chipped in with a contribution of 39. Pakistan’s strong bowling performance saw Sajid Khan taking six wickets for 128 and Noman Ali claiming three for 88.
With a cricket pitch that had been rigorously sun-dried before the game, spurring ideas of an otherwise laidback game, the actual play proved to be anything but. The day transpired to be a rollercoaster with 13 wickets claimed across the bat of both teams, deviating far from the expected tranquillity.
Two notable performances came from Ben Duckett, who struck an admirable 52 before a tricky low ball did him in, and Jamie Smith’s impressive 89, the backbone of England’s score. The match was remarkable in that it was the longest innings where only spin bowling was used, according to historical records.
On Pakistan’s side, they closed the day with a score of 73 for three wickets, four of their batsmen reached double figures but none exceeded the teens.
The day’s play dashed hopes for easy batting conditions and opportunity for an early dominance. Nonetheless, as players geared up for the game, the ground staff proudly posed for photos behind the wickets, showing pride in their painstaking preparation for the match. Their effort and creative thinking were certainly put to the test by the unpredictable twist of the day’s play.
On removing the cover and repositioning their patio heaters and industrial fans, a web of fissures and shallow scratches were exposed – markings discussed by several English players prior to the match. As experts had previously predicted, the pitch was initially peaceful, but was destined to worsen. These predictions were accurate, but the unexpected element was that this deterioration began just thirty minutes in.
Returning to the last game played on this pitch in 2022, memories stirred of a successful match for Duckett and Zak Crawley, who both reached centuries and enjoyed a 233 partnership at a lively rate of 6.5 per over. By comparison, that day saw England at a breezy 200 without loss shortly post-lunch, whereas during this match, Gus Atkinson was heading for the batting crease at the same point.
The first hint at trouble arose with the day’s initial ball, thrown by Sajid Khan that achieved sharp turn to miss both batsmen and wicketkeeper. The openers adopted a cautious approach for the subsequent first ten overs as the players began to find their form. But then, things started to take a turn.
A mix of increased turn and irregular bounce quickly set England on an unstable footing, resulting in a loss of their first five wickets for only 42 runs, as they fell apart even quicker than the pitch itself. Just like Duckett, Ollie Pope was taken out by a low ball, extending a rough run with the bat – with an average score of 23.18 in his most recent 11 innings and a low 10.1 in the previous 10, excluding the outliers 154 against Sri Lanka at the Oval. This marks the third time in three innings, and just 26 balls, where he’s been taken out by Sajid.
However, the pitch shouldn’t be shouldered with blame for all fallen wickets: Crawley missed a backward cut shot, lining him up perfectly for a planned dismissal by Pakistan’s team, resulting in a joyful jig between wicketkeeper Mohammed Rizwan and Noman Ali. Joe Root had only reached five when he incorrectly played back a Sajid ball that he could have easily defended had he leant in. Finally, an increase in pace from Sajid saw Harry Brook miss completely and subsequently was bowled, also having only scored five.
After lunch, Ben Stokes’ dismissal at 118 for six put England in a precarious position, even more so given the pre-existing damage done on the field by Pakistan’s duo of petite spinners. The tide was turned by Smith and Atkinson, who not only added 105 for the seventh wicket but showed a mastery that surely inspired and somewhat alarmed their fellow players.
Their strong performance was assisted by facing a pair of wilting bowlers, Sajid and Noman, who were concluding their exceptional long-drawn exertion. Together, they had delivered the first 42 overs of England’s innings. Following their shared magnificence in the second Test at Multan, by the moment of their separation, they jointly bowled 89.5 overs, spanning three innings and two matches, and took 20 wickets along the way.
Smith and Atkinson broadly opened up their game when the two bowlers were partook apart. Atkinson made Zahid Mahmood his prime target, scoring four boundaries, while Smith focused on the resurgent Sajid, driving his four sixes and entirety of his fours. They managed to score 39 in four overs against this pair, causing the reintroduction of Noman. Nonetheless, Atkinson’s run ended with a misfire back to the bowler, followed soon by Smith’s dismissal, giving Zahid his solitary wicket and signaling the close of England’s innings.
Pakistan then faced the challenge of a dipping sun and unfamiliar seam bowling, threatening to destabilise their innings. After losing three wickets for 11 runs with an initial score of 35 with no loss, Shoaib Bashir, Jack Leach, and Atkinson each took a wicket. However, Shan Masood and Saud Shakheel navigated the situation and safely saw the innings through to the day’s close. – Guardian