PAK vs ENG: Despite strong bowling, Pakistan's batting failed, British are using the whip in Rawalpindi, Video

Cricket News Desk. Thanks to Jamie Smith's fighting half-century, England scored 267 runs in the first innings on the first day of the important third and final Test against Pakistan. At one time after lunch, England's score was 118 runs for six wickets, but Smith, apart from his innings of 89 runs, played an important role in taking the team beyond 250 by making a partnership of 105 runs with Gus Atkinson (39). For Pakistan, off-spinner Sajid Khan took six wickets for 128 runs while left-arm spinner Noman Ali took three wickets for 88 runs. In reply, Pakistan had scored 73 runs for three wickets by the end of the day's play.

Pakistan still trailed by 194 runs with seven wickets remaining on the spin-friendly pitch of the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. At the end of the day's play, captain Shan Masood and Saeed Shakeel were both playing with 16 runs. Pakistan lost the wickets of openers Abdullah Shafiq (14) and Sam Ayub (19) in the second innings and Kamran Ghulam (03), who scored a century in the last Test. Kamran was bowled by fast bowler Gus Atkins.

There was no fast bowling in the first innings

Earlier during England's innings, Pakistan did not give its only spinner Aamir Jamal a chance to bowl. According to ESPN, this is only the second time in Test history that a team has not bowled a fast bowler in the first innings of a Test match. During Pakistan's win in the second Test in Multan last week, Sajid and Noman took all 20 wickets for England and here too they bowled 42 consecutive overs and troubled the visitors.

However, wicketkeepers Smith and Atkinson handled the innings. Smith hit six sixes and five fours in his innings while Atkinson hit five fours. Smith completed his half-century in 94 balls. Before the tea break, while trying to play a slog sweep off Zahid Mahmood, he was caught by wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan. Atkinson also returned to the pavilion after being caught by Noman on his ball.

Both spinners bowled 30 consecutive overs together

Before this, Sajid and Noman bowled full 30 overs before lunch. Despite a good start from openers Ben Duckett (52) and Jack Crawley (29), England reached 110 for five at lunch. Duckett and Crawley completed the team's half-century in 12 overs with the help of sweep and reverse sweep, but then the team lost five wickets in the next 13 overs.

Noman gave the first success to Pakistan by sending Crowley to the pavilion, then Sajid dismissed Ollie Pope (03) and Joe Root (05) LBW in consecutive overs. After completing his half-century, Duckett was trapped LBW by Noman in the same over. Harry Brook (05) played the ball over the wicket in an attempt to sweep Sajid.