“On a wicket like that you fear that it’s going to deteriorate as the game goes on”: England saviour Jamie Smith on his 89-run knock against Pakistan

RAWALPINDI, Pakistan (AP) — Jamie Smith bailed out England with a gallant half-century against Pakistan’s spin attack on an engineered dry pitch to start the decisive third test on Thursday.

England was on the ropes at 118-6 shortly after lunch until Smith’s 89 revived them to 267 all out. Smith and Gus Atkinson (39) combined in a gutsy 105-run stand.

“I want to be someone who does it in all conditions, not just at home against spin and seam,” Smith said. “To come out here and to put in that performance is quite pleasing.”

Off-spinner Sajid Khan grabbed 6-128, and left-arm spinner Noman Ali had 3-88.

England reduced Pakistan to 73-3 by stumps, still trailing by 194 runs on a pitch fanned, heated and raked by the ground staff at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.

Skipper Shan Masood and Saud Shakeel, after overturning an on-field decision of a leg-side catch against him, were both 16 not out.

Gus Atkinson, one of two changes England made to the side which lost the second test by 152 runs, claimed the only wicket on the day to fall to a pace bowler when he clean bowled Kamran Ghulam for 3.

Pakistan didn’t use its only seam option, Aamer Jamal. This was only the second time in test history that a team didn’t bowl a pacer in the first innings of a test match, according to ESPN. The first time was in 1882 by Australia against England in Sydney.

Khan and Ali took all 20 wickets in Pakistan’s series-levelling win in the second test in Multan last week, and they sliced through England again by bowling unchanged for 42 overs.

Wicketkeeper Smith smashed six sixes and five boundaries and Atkinson hit five fours as they defied the all-spin attack.

“On a wicket like that you fear that it’s going to deteriorate as the game goes on, so every first innings run is vital,” Smith said. “That partnership took a lot pressure off me … we complement each other quite nicely (and) he allowed me to sort of knock the ball around at times when he’s playing some shots.”

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