On the opening day of the third and final Test match between England and Pakistan, the pitch at Karachi’s National Stadium presented a challenging surface for batters, resulting in a dramatic collapse of wickets.
Pakistan’s Sajid Khan emerged as the star performer, claiming six wickets for 128 runs in 29.2 overs. This marked the third time in his career that he has taken five or more wickets in an innings.
England captain Ben Stokes, who won the toss and elected to bat first, saw his team make a solid start, reaching 56 without loss. However, the pitch’s unpredictable behavior soon became evident, and Zak Crawley’s dismissal for 29 triggered a rapid collapse.
England lost five wickets for just 42 runs, slumping from 56-0 to 98-5 within 12.5 overs. The pitch’s uneven bounce and variable pace proved to be a nightmare for the batters.
Despite the difficult conditions, Jamie Smith emerged as a beacon of hope for England, scoring a gritty 89 runs. He formed a crucial 107-run partnership with Gus Atkinson, who contributed 39 runs, helping England recover from their precarious position of 118-6.
By lunch, England had reached 110-5, and by tea, they had progressed to 242-8, thanks to Smith and Atkinson’s efforts. England’s innings eventually concluded with a total of 267 runs.
Sajid Khan’s impressive bowling performance was a major factor in Pakistan’s dominance on the first day. His ability to extract bounce and movement from the pitch proved to be a handful for the English batters.
The match is poised for an intriguing contest over the remaining days, with Pakistan holding a slight advantage after the first day’s play.
