The opening day of the third and decisive Test between England and Pakistan was a gripping affair, with the famed batting track yielding an unexpected 13 wickets. However, England emerged with the upper hand, finishing the day at 267 runs while reducing Pakistan to 73 for 3 at stumps at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Thursday.England captain Ben Stokes won the toss for the first time in eight attempts, opting to bat first. This decision was significant, particularly as Pakistan’s Shan Masood expressed concerns about the pitch conditions.The day began brightly for England, who raced to 56 without loss. However, the match turned dramatically as the pitch started to show its unpredictable nature. Zak Crawley (29), playing in his 50th Test, fell victim to a scuffed drive off Noman Ali, sparking a swift collapse. Ollie Pope followed suit, out for just three after being trapped lbw, and soon after, Duckett (52), Joe Root (5), and Harry Brook (5) fell to a barrage of low-bouncing deliveries.What initially seemed a solid position quickly deteriorated as England slumped from 56 for no loss to 98/5 in just 12.5 overs. This collapse highlighted the pitch’s erratic behaviour, which posed challenges for the batters. Amid the chaos, Jamie Smith rose to the occasion, scoring a remarkable 89 runs. His innings included a pivotal partnership of 107 runs with Gus Atkinson, who contributed 39 runs. Together, they steadied the ship after England was reeling at 118/6.
