Summary

  • Third Test, Rawalpindi - England win toss & bat

  • Series level at 1-1

  • Smith falls for superb 89 to Zahid

  • Sajid claims five wickets; Noman dismisses both openers & Atkinson

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Live Reporting

by Matthew Henry

  1. Eng 191-6

    Gus Atkinson was in control of the last one, I'm not so sure this time.

    He goes over the top again, slightly straighter this time and the fielder at wide long-off is there.

    The dive goes in but he can't get there. One bounce for four.

  2. Eng 187-6

    Top shot.

    Tossed up by Zahid Mahmood and Gus Atkinson, very intentionally, hits up and over cover.

    Timed well and it gets to the boundary in no time.

  3. Steven Finn
    Former England fast bowler on BBC Test Match Special

    Jamie Smith has been calm and tried to put the pressure back onto Pakistan.

  4. 50 runs

    50 for Jamie Smith

    Eng 183-6

    Jamie Smith calls for two again and this time he gets to bring up his fourth Test fifty.

    It's been a extremely valuable knock with England in trouble. He reached the milestone from 94 balls.

    A composed innings and he's not done yet.

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    Waiting for what seems like an eternity to board a flight from Tivat in Montenegro. Had thought England would be all out before I board in 15 minutes but starting to look OK. Doubt we'll be batting when we land!

    Joe, Montenegro

  6. Eng 181-6

    For the third straight over, it's a single each for Gus Atkinson and Jamie Smith.

    The latter wanted two after clipping the last ball of Zahid Mahmood's over through mid-wicket but was rightly sent back by Atkinson.

    Zahid had beaten him with a superb turning delivery the ball before but Smith quickly brushed that off.

  7. Stephan Shemilt
    BBC Sport chief cricket writer in Rawalpindi

    There was a good crowd here two years ago and decent numbers again today. In contrast to Multan, this ground is the middle of the city, so much easier to get to.

    It's also free entry, though there is some suggestion the need for an actual physical ticket is making it hard. The call to prayer very occasionally wafts across the ground, mixed with Adele's Skyfall.

  8. Eng 179-6

    Another over ticks by with a single apiece for the England pair. Their partnership is now worth 61.

    Jamie Smith is closing in on another Test half-century.

  9. Eng 177-6

    Smith 46, Atkinson 20

    Just a couple of singles from Zahid Mahmood's latest but England have batted well since lunch.

    Sensible cricket from Jamie Smith and Gus Atkinson, digging in for the most part and picking their moments to attack.

  10. Steven Finn
    Former England fast bowler on BBC Test Match Special

    It feels like Pakistan are dangling carrots at the moment. They are taking the pace off the ball just asking for England to try and hit it big.

  11. 6 runs

    Eng 175-6

    Jamie SmithGetty Images

    "Catch it!" is the cry from Muhammad Rizwan behind the stumps but the ball sails over the head of the deep mid-wicket fielder.

    A lusty blow from Jamie Smith as he goes back and pummels Sajid Khan over the leg side.

  12. Eng 169-6

    I stand corrected, of course we aren't going to have neither Sajid Khan or Noman Ali bowling from one end nor the other.

    Sajid is back on but his first ball is clipped away fine by Jamie Smith.

    He gets back for two and that brings up the fifty partnership.

  13. Soham Sarkhel
    CricViz analyst

    This partnership currently has the third-lowest run rate (2.74) for any partnership in the Bazball era for a minimum of 100 balls faced after Harry Brook & Joe Root's 49 off 117 (run rate of 2.51) v Sri Lanka, Manchester, 2024, and Ben Foakes & Joe Root's 113 off 261 balls v India, Ranchi, 2024 (run rate of 2.59).

  14. Eng 167-6

    It is just a change of ends for Zahid Mahmood. So, for the first time in a long time in this series, we've got a situation where neither Sajid Khan or Noman Ali are bowling for Pakistan.

    The home side have been very good in the field today and another sprawling stop in the covers denies Jamie Smith even a single for a crunching drive.

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    It’s a shame Jamie Smith will miss the NZ series, a great find and a good future. Hope he goes out in style here.

    Mike, Halifax

  16. Eng 165-6

    Three overs for leg-spinner Zahid Mahmood and he's given the hook. If this isn't just for a change of ends, it feels particularly harsh. He'd bowled well.

    Salman Ali Agha replaces him and is worked for three singles before getting his last delivery to turn sharply and beat Jamie Smith on the inside edge.

    The ball ballooned up to slip but there was no bat involved.

  17. Steven Finn
    Former England fast bowler on BBC Test Match Special

    If England can scrap to 230, that's a competitive score but we'll have to see how the conditions change.

  18. Eng 162-6

    Jamie Smith takes a pair of twos, both played into the off side, from Sajid Khan's over.

    He might have got a couple more but for a good stop in the covers after he'd nailed the last ball off the back foot.

  19. Noman Ali's mammoth spell ends at 23 overs so, after a whole five overs of recovery, Sajid Khan is back on for Pakistan.

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    200 seems a realistic target now, match Pakistan's first innings score in the second innings, and set Pakistan 200 in the fourth innings. Until we have seen both teams bat on the pitch, we can't be sure the pitch is the problem.

    James