Pakistan dominated England on the first morning of the crucial deciding Test match, as the tourists struggled to 110 for five by lunchtime in Rawalpindi. Facing the formidable spin duo of Sajid Khan and Noman Ali, who had previously taken all 20 wickets in Pakistan’s victory in Multan, England’s top order crumbled against the turning ball.
Despite Ben Duckett’s resilient 52, which was the only noteworthy resistance, England found themselves in trouble on a challenging pitch prepared by the hosts. Pakistan’s spinners took control, claiming four wickets for just 28 runs at one stage, putting them in a commanding position after the initial session.
Expecting the pitch to deteriorate as the match progressed, England captain Ben Stokes opted to bat first after winning the toss, hoping to build on the team’s recent success. However, Pakistan’s spin duo of Sajid and Noman continued their dominance from the previous Test, keeping England’s batsmen under pressure with their consistent bowling.
Although England started steadily, reaching 56 runs in 14 overs, the wickets began to fall quickly thereafter. Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett showed glimpses of resistance but ultimately succumbed to the spinners’ prowess. Joe Root and Ollie Pope fell cheaply to Sajid Khan, leaving England in a precarious position.
Despite Duckett’s half-century, his dismissal to Noman Ali’s unplayable delivery exposed England’s vulnerability to Pakistan’s spin attack. Harry Brook also fell victim to Sajid’s bowling, further denting England’s hopes of a strong start in the deciding Test match.
As Stokes and Jamie Smith tried to stabilize the innings before lunch, England found themselves facing an uphill battle to recover from the challenging position they were in against Pakistan’s spin threat.
In conclusion, the first morning of the deciding Test match between Pakistan and England showcased Pakistan’s spin prowess and England’s struggles against quality spin bowling. With the match finely poised, England will need to regroup and come up with a solid plan to counter Pakistan’s spin threat in the remaining days of the Test match.