England and Pakistan Clash in Decisive Third Test Match
England and Pakistan Clash in Decisive Third Test Match England Wins Toss and Chooses to Bat First Amidst Dry Conditions
Decisive Third Test Between Pakistan and England Underway in Rawalpindi
Rawalpindi-(Sports Reporter): England elects to bat first after winning the toss, with early struggles evident on a turning pitch.
The crucial third Test match between Pakistan and England kicked off under warm and hazy conditions in Rawalpindi, where England chose to bat after winning the toss.
England Struggles Early Against Pakistan’s Spin Attack
At the end of 30 overs, England was struggling at 110 for 5. Captain Ben Stokes, breaking a streak of seven consecutive toss losses, expressed optimism about the dry pitch, which is expected to deteriorate as the game progresses.
Pakistan’s Sajid Khan opened the bowling and quickly exploited the dry surface, producing spin from the outset. England’s Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett took their positions, with Crawley managing to sneak a bye off the first ball as the ball kept low and veered down the leg side. Pakistan has set up a defensive field, including one slip and a short leg, indicating a tough battle ahead on this spin-friendly wicket.
Cricket experts, including former player Mike Atherton, noted visible cracks on the pitch, suggesting it would pose increasing challenges for batsmen as the match unfolds. Despite these conditions, both teams anticipate a high-scoring game early on, reminiscent of their previous encounter on this ground two years prior, where both teams exceeded 500 runs in their first innings.
England has made one change in their lineup, bringing in Gus Atkinson to replace Matt Potts. Pakistan, however, has opted for an unchanged side, relying on a spin-heavy attack featuring Zahid Mahmood, Noman Ali, and Sajid Khan.
With the series tied at 1-1, this match holds significant implications for several players on both teams, as fans look forward to what promises to be an exciting contest over the next five days.
Team Lineups:
Pakistan: Saim Ayub, Abdullah Shafique, Shan Masood (capt), Kamran Ghulam, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Salman Agha, Aamer Jamal, Sajid Khan, Noman Ali, Zahid Mehmood
England: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (capt), Jamie Smith (wk), Gus Atkinson, Rehan Ahmed, Jack Leach, Shoaib Bashir
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