Third Test, Karachi (day one of five) |
Pakistan 304 all out: Babar 78, Agha 56; Leach 4-140 |
England 7-1: Duckett 4*, Abrar 1-2 |
Scorecard |
England defeated Pakistan 304 to 304 on the first day of the final Test.
The youngest man to play a Test for England grew from a nervous start to claim 2-89.
Babar Azam was run out for 78 after being caught at short leg by Ahmed.
Pakistan, who won the toss, had been reduced to 237-7.
The two men fought back in a stand of 48 before the second one skied a catch.
The man was stumped for 56 off the man who ended with 4-140.
On a pitch that looks set to turn more and more, England lost Zak Crawley to the fifth ball of their reply and closed the game at 7-1.
England are looking to become the first team to leave Pakistan with a clean sweep after taking a 2-0 lead in the series.
A ball was going to be thrown. In 1949 Brian Close held the record for the most England caps by a single player.
At the other end of his career, Azhar Ali was recalled in one of four changes to the Pakistan side to play his final Test after announcing his retirement on Friday.
The talk prior to the match was about the pitch. It was the first time since 1921 that a spinner opened the bowling for England.
It took time for the assistance for the spinners to arrive.
Such conditions seemed dangerous for England with James Anderson rested, Ollie Robinson struggling with illness, and Mark Wood only used in short bursts.
England used creativity and determination to work their way through the home batting after being aided by some Pakistan mistakes.
The size of England's batting task both now and in the final days of the match was highlighted by the fact that Crawley was trapped on the back foot.
The decision to give the new ball to the left-armer was vindicated when he pinned Shafique LBW but, for most of the day, it was the left-armer who was England's biggest spinner.
His first five overs cost 37 runs as he was introduced into the attack.
The home side was often deceived by the man with his ripping googly.
Shakeel was taken by a diving Ollie Pope at short leg after he inside-edged a leg-break onto his pads.
The bowler when Babar was run out was Ahmad.
The final say on the Pakistan counter was given to Leach. The last man was thrown by one that turned sharply and the dancing man was stumped.
The hosts were guilty of a number of dismissals before Babar's demise.
Masood top-edged a Wood bouncer to fine leg to fall for 30, Azhar gloved Robinson down the leg side on 45 and Mohammad Rizwan hacked Joe Root to the deep on the leg side.
Babar was hitting the ball well. By the time the crowd started chanting his name, he had barely gotten off the ground.
The captain seemed destined for a century that went begging.
After turning the ball into the leg side, he set off for a very tight single. Ben Foakes did well to gather a low throw, tumble and break the stumps after Harry brook swooped.
After his half-century, Pakistan lost three of their own.
Rehan said that he was told he was making his debut the day before. I was unable to sleep or eat. I didn't think I'd be playing.
I rushed at the beginning. The result came out better than anticipated. I was hit for a few things. I was told by Stokesy that he didn't care about runs, he cared about wickets and he got some in the second spell.