Pakistan spinner Sajid Khan delivered a masterclass in spin bowling, taking six wickets to dismantle England on the first day of the third Test match in Rawalpindi. Despite Sajid’s heroics, England managed to stage a late fightback, ending Day 1 in a competitive position.
Spin Takes Centre Stage in Rawalpindi Test
All eyes were on the Rawalpindi pitch before play, as ground staff worked with industrial fans and heaters to ensure a dry surface. Questions swirled about how much the pitch would turn, and it didn’t take long for answers to emerge. Sajid Khan, aided by a pitch offering significant turn from the outset, wreaked havoc on the English batting line-up, reducing the visitors to 118/6 at one stage.
Sajid Khan spins web around England
Sajid’s bowling was the highlight of Pakistan’s day, claiming 6 wickets as England struggled to cope with his skill and the conditions. His impressive figures of 6/128 stand among the best-ever by spinners at Rawalpindi, putting him alongside greats like Mushtaq Ahmed and Noman Ali. Sajid was well supported by Noman Ali, who took three wickets, further consolidating Pakistan’s dominance with spin. England found it difficult to build any sustainable partnerships against Pakistan’s all-spin attack, which saw no overs bowled by pacers.
England’s lower-order resistance
Just when it seemed England were destined for a sub-par score, Jamie Smith and Gus Atkinson staged a remarkable recovery. Their 105-run partnership not only rescued England but put them in a respectable position, pushing the team total to 267 before tea. Atkinson, who was in fine form, played confidently against the Pakistani spinners, while Smith’s resilience provided much-needed stability.
Pakistan’s Response: Early Wickets Fall
Pakistan’s reply started well, but England’s spinners soon found their rhythm. The hosts were 73/3 after 23 overs, struggling to gain momentum as Shafique, Ghulam, and Ayub were dismissed cheaply.
England’s spinners, led by Jack Leach, took advantage of the turning track to keep Pakistan’s batting line-up in check, mirroring the control exerted by Pakistan’s bowlers earlier in the day.
Spin to play key role
With both sides fielding multiple spinners, the match is poised for an exciting contest on a pitch that continues to favour the tweakers. England, having seen their spinners gain traction by the end of the day, will look to maintain pressure on Pakistan’s middle order as play resumes. Meanwhile, Pakistan will be hoping their lower order can hold firm and close the gap on England’s total.
As things stand, both teams will be relatively pleased with their efforts on a day dominated by spin, but the outcome remains delicately balanced as the Test match progresses.
Notable Performances: Pakistan vs England
Sajid Khan’s 6/128 joined the list of impressive spin performances in Rawalpindi, alongside Mushtaq Ahmed’s 6/87 against New Zealand in 1996 and Noman Ali’s 6/107 against Australia in 2022. This also marks the sixth time Pakistan spinners have taken all 10 wickets in an innings of a Test, and the fourth time this has happened against England.
Both sides will now look to capitalise on their positions, with the pitch expected to continue offering turn and favouring spinners in the coming days.
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