Four wickets from spinner Jack Leach and two wickets from youngest Test debutant Rehan Ahmed helped England bundle out Pakistan for 304 in their first innings on the opening day of the third and final Test here on Saturday. Pakistan also took one wicket of England till stumps thanks to spinner Abrar Ahmed. England’s score was one wicket for seven runs, Ben Duckett four and Ollie Pope were at the crease after scoring three runs. Abrar Ahmed made an impressive Test debut in the second Test at Multan, taking 11/234.
But Pakistan lost by 26 runs in four days in this thrilling match. Leach bowled a spell of 11 overs with the new ball and took four wickets for 140 runs. Ahmed recovered from nervous bowling to take two wickets for 89 runs in the first five overs. Ahmed’s father Naeem was present at the stadium. Ahmed is 18 years 126 days old, making him 23 days younger than Brian Close, who made his Test debut for England in 1949 against New Zealand at Manchester. Pakistan skipper Babar Azam (78) and Agha Salman (56) scored restrained half-centuries for the hosts but a dry pitch helped Leach and Ahmed to make a comeback for England.
Babar missed out on scoring his second century in the series and was run out in the final session. After England took an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series, 40-year-old fast bowler James Anderson was rested, giving Ahmed the opportunity. Ben Foakes also made his return from illness. Ahmed dismissed Saud Shakeel (23) but Babar managed to take Pakistan to 204 for five at tea. Ahmed did not concede runs in the final session and bowled from round the wicket to dismiss Faheem Ashraf lbw with a fine googly.The England team, which is visiting Pakistan for the first time in 17 years, is trying to clean sweep the series 3-0. Babar won the toss and decided to bat. Azhar Ali was dismissed for 45 on a short pitch by Ollie Robinson in his farewell Test.
