Ollie Robinson and Josh Tongue took five wickets each to dismiss Pakistan’s batting order on the first day of the opening Test at Headingley, and bowled the visiting side out for 171 runs. England’s bowlers exploited helpful conditions from the outset as they reduced Pakistan to 6 for 2 inside the first five overs before a partnership between Abdullah Shafique and Imam-ul-Haq briefly steadied the innings.
England’s openers then began their reply with intent and reached 112 for 2 by stumps, cutting the difference to 59 runs with eight wickets in hand. Joe Root led the side after his return to the captaincy, and remained unbeaten on 37 alongside Jordan Cox, who made 23 not out on his first outing at No. 3.
Robinson and Tongue Skittle Pakistan for 171
Robinson struck with the first ball of the match as he trapped Azan Awais lbw for a duck, and followed up three overs later by removing Shan Masood in the same fashion. Pakistan lost both openers cheaply and were forced to rebuild through Shafique and Imam-ul-Haq, who added 91 runs for the third wicket before Josh Tongue broke the stand. Imam edged a wide delivery to second slip for 42, and the innings unravelled from there.
Robinson returned to have Shafique caught behind for 61 after the batter had struck eight boundaries, while Saud Shakeel fell lbw to Robinson in a decision that survived a late review after Pakistan missed the 15-second window to challenge it.
Tongue then dismantled the tail as he took two wickets in as many balls and finished with figures of 5 for 46 as Pakistan lost their last eight wickets for just 74 runs. The total of 171 marked Pakistan’s lowest first-innings score in a Test in ten years.
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Rain Interrupts Play as Conditions Aid Seamers
Overcast skies at Headingley gave England’s seam bowlers early assistance, and a heavy downpour just under an hour into the match forced an early lunch and a two-hour delay. The stoppage did little to slow Pakistan’s collapse once play resumed, though it helped Shafique and Imam-ul-Haq settle briefly before the shower.
Salman Agha and Mohammad Rizwan, Pakistan’s most productive middle-order pairing this season, added a further stand to push the total past 150, but neither could convert the start into a substantial score. Agha made 21 off 29 balls before Tongue bowled him, and Rizwan was given lbw for 12 after review confirmed the decision by the narrowest of margins.
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England Openers Fall Cheaply Before Root, Cox Steady the Chase
Pakistan’s bowlers struck twice inside the first ten overs of England’s reply. Mohammad Abbas trapped Ben Duckett lbw for 15 after a review overturned the initial not-out call, and Mohammad Ali had Emilio Gay caught at slip for 33 in an otherwise wayward opening spell.
Those two wickets gave Pakistan a brief foothold, but Root and Cox batted through the remainder of the day without further alarm as they added 64 runs together to leave England well placed heading into day two.
Pakistan’s bowling attack, which missed the recovering Babar Azam, will need early wickets on the second morning to prevent England from building a first-innings lead.
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