RAWALPINDI: Pakistan’s spin trap led by Sajid Khan and Noman Ali on Thursday wreaked havoc on England to dismiss the top half of their batting line-up in one session, reducing the tourists to 110-5 on the opening day of the decider third Test at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.
Ben Duckett (52) got England off to a decent start but captain Ben Stokes, hitting on six, was left to rue his decision to bat first at a turn. Jamie Smith was batting on five at the break with England facing a huge task to rebuild the innings.
With the series level at 1-1, Pakistan attacked with spin from both ends with Sajid and Noman, who shared all of England’s 20 wickets in the previous Test in Multan, bowling in a row.
The left-handed Noman drew first blood when he tempted Zak Crawley (29) with a delivery, the opener was looking for a drive but he edged it to Saim Ayub in the gully.
England vice-captain Olly Pope (three) fell to Sajid for the third time in three innings after he hit a shot.
The off-spinner then delivered a body blow when he trapped Joe Root, the current leading Test batsman, lbw for five with a sharply-spinning ball.
Duckett hit a six off Sajid en route to his fifty and was given a reprieve when Noman spilled a return catch. However, the spinner got his man, dismissing Duckett lbw in the same over with a delivery that was kept low.
Sajid’s trademark thigh-slapping celebration was on display again when he bowled to Harry Brook (five), who looked uneasy against the turned ball.
England are currently 118-6 with Jamie Smith batting at 7* and Gus Atkinson on a wicket, while Pakistan spinners Sajid and Noman’s wickets are four and two, respectively.
Playing XI
Pakistan: Abdullah Shafique, Saim Ayub, Shan Masood (captain), Kamran Ghulam, Saud Shakeel, Muhammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Salman Agha, Aamer Jamal, Noman Ali, Sajid Khan, Zahid Mahmood
England: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (captain), Jamie Smith (wicketkeeper), Rehan Ahmed, Gus Atkinson, Jack Leach, Shoaib Bashir
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