Pakistan crumble for 133 as England take command at Edgbaston

The hosts’ formidable pace attack exploited the overcast conditions brilliantly, with Josh Tongue claiming four wickets for 42 runs while Ollie Robinson and Jofra Archer took three apiece.

Pakistan’s reshuffled batting line-up, featuring three debutants, once again struggled to withstand sustained pressure and was dismissed in only 33.5 overs.Saud Shakeel offered the only substantial resistance, compiling a fighting 43, while Mohammad Abbas contributed 21 and debutant Razaullah made 11.

Pakistan’s top five all failed to reach double figures, leaving the visitors in deep trouble before lunch.

Robinson made an immediate impact by removing returning opener Saim Ayub for a duck, while Archer accounted for Azan Awais for nine.

Abdullah Shafique and Shan Masood soon followed before Tongue produced a superb delivery to bowl captain Babar Azam for seven.Tongue continued his destructive spell after lunch, removing debutants Ghazi Ghori and Imran Randhawa before finally breaking Shakeel’s resistance.

Abbas and Mohammad Ali added a late 26-run partnership, the highest stand of Pakistan’s innings, but the total remained well below a competitive mark.England also endured an uncertain start, losing Ben Duckett and Jordan Cox cheaply before debutant Razaullah produced a memorable moment by dismissing Joe Root lbw in his first Test over.

Emilio Gay and Harry Brook then turned the momentum firmly back towards England.

Gay played a determined innings of 60 from 114 balls, striking nine boundaries, while Brook remained unbeaten on 52.

The pair added 104 for the fourth wicket, absorbing Pakistan’s early pressure and putting England in control.

Razaullah eventually ended Gay’s resistance, but Brook and Dan Lawrence safely negotiated the closing overs.

For Pakistan, the second day now carries enormous significance.

Their bowlers must produce early breakthroughs to prevent England from building a decisive first-innings advantage, while their batsmen face another stern examination if they are to avoid a series whitewash.DAY 1: ENGLAND 154-4 (Emilio Gay 60, Harry Brook 52*; Razaullah 2-42, M Abbas 1-37) lead PAKISTAN 133 (Saud Shakeel 43, M Abbas 21; Josh Tongue 4-42, Ollie Robinson 3-15) by 23 runs.

BIRMINGHAM – Pakistan’s hopes of salvaging something from their troubled England tour suffered another severe blow as they were bundled out for a modest 133 on the opening day of the third Test at Edgbaston on Wednesday, allowing the hosts to seize….