Pakistan collapsed to 64 for six in the Birmingham Test as England’s bowlers dominated the opening stages on Wednesday. England won the toss and chose to field at Edgbaston.
England entered the third Test with a 2-0 lead in the three-match series. They are now aiming for a clean sweep. Meanwhile, Pakistan are seeking their first Test win in Birmingham.
Pakistan made several changes to their playing XI for the match. Debutants Ghazi Ghori, Razaullah and Mohammad Imran Randhawa were included in the team for the series finale.
Saim Ayub also returned to the side at the top of the order. However, Pakistan’s batting quickly came under pressure. Ayub was dismissed for a duck, while Azan Awais and Abdullah Shafique scored nine and three runs respectively.
Shan Masood added only five runs before England struck again. Captain Babar Azam then fell for seven. Debutant Ghazi Ghori scored four before Josh Tongue claimed his wicket.
As a result, Pakistan slipped to 64 for six after 17 overs. Saud Shakeel provided some resistance with an unbeaten 24. England’s Ollie Robinson, Jofra Archer and Josh Tongue shared the wickets during the collapse.
Pakistan now face a major challenge to recover from the early collapse. The visitors need a strong partnership from the remaining batters to build a competitive first-innings total and stay alive in the final Test.
