England reach 492/3 at stumps of Day 3 of the first Test against Pakistan as the hosts struggled to take wickets

[Cricket Warrior]

England have progressed smoothly to 96/1 in response to Pakistan's imposing total of 556. However, they suffered an early setback as Ben Duckett was unable to open the batting due to a thumb injury. Captain Ollie Pope stepped in alongside Zak Crawley, but his stay was short-lived as he was dismissed for a duck after Aamer Jamal pulled off a stunning catch at midwicket.

Since then, Zak Crawley (64*) and Joe Root (32*) have steadied the innings, with runs flowing steadily. The pitch remains excellent for batting, though it has shown the occasional bit of mischief. After some probing new-ball spells from Shaheen Afridi and Naseem Shah, the English duo managed to blunt the seamers with relative ease. Crawley has also been proactive against Abrar Ahmed, who bowled a few overs, and that contest could be crucial moving forward.

There’s still a long way to go in this Test, and how the game unfolds on Day 3 will be interesting to watch.


Teams:

Pakistan (Playing XI): Saim Ayub, Abdullah Shafique, Shan Masood(c), Babar Azam, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan(w), Agha Salman, Aamer Jamal, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Abrar Ahmed

England (Playing XI): Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope(c), Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jamie Smith(w), Chris Woakes, Gus Atkinson, Brydon Carse, Jack Leach, Shoaib Bashir


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[Deewana Mastana]

England are going to go all guns blazing on Day 3 and 4.

Run rate would be touching 5 and they'll get close to Pakistan's score.

 

[mominsaigol]

England are going to go all guns blazing on Day 3 and 4.

Run rate would be touching 5 and they'll get close to Pakistan's score.

England will force pak to bowl em out. Zaleel kar kei rakhei gei

 

[Deewana Mastana]

England will force pak to bowl em out. Zaleel kar kei rakhei gei

Yep they'll make sure of that.

 

[Cricket Warrior]

its going to be a BazBall show... all day smashing of bowlers in severe heat!

 

[big_gamer007]

Is the pitch flat as pancake?

 

[Deewana Mastana]

Is the pitch flat as pancake?

Oh yes it is!

 

[jnaveen1980]

I remember a famous team that scored exactly 556 runs in the first innings and went on to lose that Test . Pakistan has scored exactly that.

 

[Cricket Warrior]

Is the pitch flat as pancake?

no flat a glass

 

[Devadwal]

Adelaide test ,india vs australia .

 

[mominsaigol]

Adelaide test ,india vs australia .

Let me guess, another test that Australia lost?

 

[Devadwal]

Australia lost after scoring 556 runs in 1st innings ( same total as pakistan 1st innings) .

Let me guess, another test that Australia lost?

 

[mominsaigol]

Australia lost after scoring 556 runs in 1st innings ( same total as pakistan hence post)

Oh that game. If only you people didn't whine about sandpaper. Jk jk, please don't take this seriously as well.

 

[Devadwal]

Pakistan needs 2 wickets before lunch to force a result.

 

[mominsaigol]

Pakistan needs 2 wickets before lunch to force a result.

They won't. England won't lose. It'll be a draw or win for England

 

[Devadwal]

They won't. England won't lose. It'll be a draw or win for England

You never no .i have a feeling that we will get a result

 

[pratiktc]

Abrar Ahmed has already made impact on match by hurting Duckett finger .

Things look positive for Pak despite fans fears. Today Eng need 3 brilliant sessions to at best even the match situation. Pak just need 3 good balls to push day into their favour.

 

[jnaveen1980]

You never no .i have a feeling that we will get a result

yes. We are going to be surprised. Not sure who will win. But i also see a result. England will not settle for draw. So they will take the necessary risks. Will pakistan capitalize on it. We have to wait and see.

 

[deltexas]

Should be fun bazball today. If eng get close to pak score it should be a cracker.

 

[mominsaigol]

You never no .i have a feeling that we will get a result

If we get a result, it'll be England winning. Gap is way too high bro

 

[Ahmed216]

Eng 480 all out

 

[BouncerGuy]

England is gonna smash the bowling today on such flat wicket. Get ready for another bashing for these bowlers in extreme weather.

 

[ask_analyse_act]

yes. We are going to be surprised. Not sure who will win. But i also see a result. England will not settle for draw. So they will take the necessary risks. Will pakistan capitalize on it. We have to wait and see.

Pope is not Ben Stokes , even the English commentators look at Brook as the viable option to lead than Pope who is same as Cook or Root kinda captain.. they were not happy with losing a test to SRL in England , indeed SRL played well but it was also under Pope's captaincy to let them play like that...

 

[ask_analyse_act]

If we get a result, it'll be England winning. Gap is way too high bro

Highly yes , Pak have scored 556 in the first inns .. as usual Pak doesnt play well in all 5 days which hinder their progress as a test team.. They play well for 2-3 days then go zero to lose the match..

 

[Ahmed216]

3rd day but pitch looks like not a ball has been bowled on it yet.
It's like good quality Iranian carpet absolutely no wear and tear

 

[adi_62941]

Why i am sensing a england batting collapse today

 

[Devadwal]

Why i am sensing a england batting collapse today

Yes if they can take root wicket quickly.

 

[BouncerGuy]

Finally, Shaheen got 1. Crawley gone.

 

[adi_62941]

Yes if they can take root wicket quickly.

Qudrat ka qanoon in action

 

[Nikhil_cric]

Crawley goes playing a loose stroke. This is why it was important to bat time here for England.

You HAVE to wear them down and get 5 spells out of Naseem and Shaheen.

Bazball is too one dimensional

 

[ask_analyse_act]

Eng 480 all out

lol they let Bangladesh from 26/6 to score 250+ and in the first innings they nearly let Mushfiqur score a double ton, looked like fools retiring the first innings early when giving the opponent to take 100 runs lead...

No way eng gonna be 480 all out... they will add 500+ today to their total , im expecting them to score 600+ with lose of 7 wickets and after taking 100 runs lead they will declare and put this scared cats into bat and win the test in 5th day lunch session

 

[Nikhil_cric]

They won't. England won't lose. It'll be a draw or win for England

They need to bat long for that. They have never shown the ability to do that.

 

[adi_62941]

Duckett is a sitting duck here

 

[Devadwal]

Both wicket falls due to pathetic shots. Those were Nothing delivery

 

[adi_62941]

This hack the captain shan is more defensive than babar. Only one slip for a new batter duckett

 

[kron]

Will be some sight seeing sacchu Bacchus fans tears after root breaks his record soon.

 

[Muhammad Saad]

They should let Saim bowl instead of Abrar , Saim bowls better and quicker with equal turn both ways.

 

[jnaveen1980]

very neutral "crowd". No noise for boundaries, no noise for wickets.

 

[shah_1]

Abrar is a nothing bowler

One of the biggest reason of our downfall in test cricket has been trying to find a decent spinner after Yasir Shah.

 

[adi_62941]

Any update on khurram shahzad injury ? I mean this guy always bowls good and then gets unfit

 

[jnaveen1980]

Babar's PR team last night

PR team to Babar: You just act like you are setting the field we will take care of the rest on social media.

 

[adi_62941]

Abrar is a nothing bowler

One of the biggest reason of our downfall in test cricket has been trying to find a decent spinner after Yasir Shah.

That is why he was kept out of playing xi during babar’s tenure as captain and karachites bashed babar for not playing him. He will be a butter bowler for batsmen in india

 

[jnaveen1980]

The thing is 9 players from ENgland can bat. That is another thing that Pakistan has to contend with.

 

[shah_1]

That is why he was kept out of playing xi during babar’s tenure as captain and karachites bashed babar for not playing him. He will be a butter bowler for batsmen in india

His stock delivery hardly spins and his googly is too slow compared to his stock delivery so batsmen find it easy.

 

[kron]

When will ball reverse blaaddy

 

[kron]

Maybe need to pick venues that are not well known but can generate big crowds. Multan isn't good enough. I know it's a weekday but still.

 

[kron]

His stock delivery hardly spins and his googly is too slow compared to his stock delivery so batsmen find it easy.

He can't turn. He can't generate bounce. No overspin.
Just places the ball. Most useless guy. He is holding them back big time.

 

[Nikhil_cric]

After his debut Test, he averages 40 with the ball this Abrar and he didn't even play in Australia.

 

[jnaveen1980]

WHat is Abrar's stock delivery?

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

Duckett taking out all his frustration out on Abrar for breaking his finger

 

[Rana]

England set to get 400 by second new ball

 

[Ahmed216]

Duckett will sweep Abrar into obscurity

 

[Human786]

Abrar molested ... time for Pacers to be bowled to dust !!! 154/2 in 30

 

[Human786]

Does any1 fancy a result on this ghastly pitch ?

 

[Maliq_Mudasir]

WHat is Abrar's stock delivery?

To get hit for boundary

 

[Cric_lover4487]

No hater but Abrar is not a quality test bowler. He is all over the place. Can't believe Pakistan doesn't have even 1 spinner.

 

[Nikhil_cric]

WHat is Abrar's stock delivery?

The fact that he was the best spinner in domestic 2 years ago speaks volumes about the standard of QEA.

 

[Ahmed216]

Glorious from Root through the covers

 

[Rana]

Ben Duckett and Travis Head

Nightmares to bowl at currently

 

[Aang_The_last_airbender]

What is the probability that after scoring 550, Pakistan might lose by an innings on the morning of day 5?

 

[Human786]

a 75 ball 100 from Brook would be real nice .

 

[Ahmed216]

Goes between second slip and keeper. That was very well bowled

 

[Nikhil_cric]

Naseem getting a bit of reverse

 

[Devadwal]

Naseem is only quality bowler pakistan have ,rest are average or rubbish

 

[BouncerGuy]

Naseem definitely getting something out of this wicket. Hint of reverse from him.

 

[pratiktc]

Good first hour from Eng.
Can they maintain this now for 5 more hrs?

 

[mominsaigol]

Already at 171. I'm sensing a root 100

 

[jnaveen1980]

Good first hour from Eng.
Can they maintain this now for 5 more hrs?

73 runs in one hour. 5 more hours to go. If they go at that rate with loss of no more than 2 wickets they will be more than 500

 

[Aang_The_last_airbender]

73 runs in one hour. 5 more hours to go. If they go at that rate with loss of no more than 2 wickets they will be more than 500

England might have a lead by end of today.

 

[Protea Fan]

Only a brain fade can stop root from his 35th test ton

he should blame himself for anything less

 

[aqeelPK]

First target for England is to avoid the follow on.

 

[pratiktc]

There will be inevitable error wkts like Crawley

 

[mominsaigol]

The main issue is root, duckett and brooks. They ain't going down thar easy

 

[TheNeutralist]

Both fast bowlers not bowling 140+ kmph

 

[Protea Fan]

Sign of reverse swing from naseem sha as per commentators

 

[Devadwal]

So England scoring rate is above 5

 

[mominsaigol]

So England scoring rate is above 5

You reckon a draw? Or forced result?

 

[BouncerGuy]

You reckon a draw? Or forced result?

England win

 

[Devadwal]

Hint of reverse Swing for jamal

 

[mominsaigol]

England win

I agree