BIRMINGHAM, England (AP) — Pakistan fielded a new-look team, but the same old problems resurfaced as it plunged to 101-8 after being put into bat by England in the third and final Test at Edgbaston on Wednesday.
The touring team, which caused a major surprise by sending seven players home after its second-test defeat at Lord’s, plus the head coach and the bowling coach, made four changes to the side, but the batters were all at sea yet again.
England claimed a first breakthrough when the recalled Saim Ayub was trapped lbw for a duck to give quick bowler Ollie Robinson his 100th Test wicket.
Jofra Archer then forced Azan Awais into offering mid-on fielder Josh Tongue a low, diving catch off a leading edge.
Abdullah Shafique was next to go, caught low down by Dan Lawrence at third slip off Robinson.
Shan Masood became the fourth wicket to fall when he lobbed the ball to mid-wicket off fast bowler Archer following a poor cross-bat stroke.
Fellow paceman Tongue then removed Pakistan captain Babar Azam before dismissing debutants Ghazi Ghori and Imran Randhawa, lbw and clean bowled respectively.
Saud Shakeel, who made a fighting 97 in a losing cause at Lord’s, was the one shining light for Pakistan as he reached lunch on 37 not out. Razaullah Khan, another debutant, was dismissed for 11.
Robinson has taken three wickets so far.
England took an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series after beating Pakistan by 194 runs at Lord’s.
Lineups
England: Ben Duckett, Emilio Gay, Jordan Cox, Joe Root (captain), Harry Brook, Dan Lawrence, Jamie Smith, Ollie Robinson, Gus Atkinson, Jofra Archer, Josh Tongue.
Pakistan: Azan Awais, Saim Ayub, Abdullah Shafique, Shan Masood, Babar Azam (captain), Saud Shakeel, Ghazi Ghori, Imran Randhawa, Razaullah Khan, Mohammad Ali, Muhammad Abbas.