Eng 137-6published at 38.3 overs

38.3 overs

It's ugly... but it's four then six for Jamie Smith.

Down the track to Sajid Khan and ends up dragging an attempted big shot leg side - into the gap at deep mid-wicket.

He goes again next ball and this time gets more of it. Just enough to clear Saim Ayub on the rope.

The Pakistan fielder thought he was in the game there, and he so nearly was.

Shot!

Too short from Noman Ali and slightly too wide as well.

Gus Atkinson goes back and thumps a back-foot drive through the covers for four.

Excellent response from Noman. Straight back on it with a beautiful dipping delivery that turns away just enough to beat Atkinson as he lunged forward.

Image source, Getty Images

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England are struggling. They won what looked like a crucial toss but, with the ball turning, have lost six wickets.

Conditions for batting have been difficult, on a pitch that has been prepared to spin with industrial fans, patio heaters and rakes.

As well as the turn there have been balls shooting low with spinners Noman Ali and Sajid Khan bowling unchanged throughout.

But there have also been some poor shots. Zak Crawley was first dismissed on the drive, Ollie Pope and Harry Brook both missed sweeps and Ben Stokes was also dismissed playing a loose drive.

Their best chance of a decent score seems to lie with Jamie Smith.

A positive spin on this situation, Martin, very fitting...

Another maiden goes by as Sajid Khan continues to wile away.

Both Jamie Smith and Gus Atkinson are choosing to soak up the pressure for the time being. We'll have to see how long that lasts.

Noman Ali rattles through another maiden with Gus Atkinson getting forward to defend more often that not.

No issues with the over rate today, with Pakistan's two finger spinners bowling unchanged since the start of play.

The pitch is turning, the bounce is variable but you still need the bowlers to make the most of the conditions.

We've all seen even the best seamers in the world fail to capitalise when the pressure is on on a green seamer, or spinners wilt when asked to perform on a dusty fourth-innings surface.

No such problems for Sajid Khan and Noman Ali here, though. Despite the pressure, they've thrived in these conditions.

John Petrie: Going out on a limb here but I think 250 in this innings could be a winning total.

Beauty from Noman Ali.

Flighted and it dips to pitch on middle before turning away from Jamie Smith to beat the bat.

Smith didn't try to follow it, though, as he remains watchful throughout a maiden over.

Andy Zaltzman
Statistician on Test Match Special

There has been 80 consecutive overs between Sajid Khan and Noman Ali.

Gus Atkinson, back in the England XI after being rested for the second Test, is in at eight.

He gets off the mark with a back-foot punch down the ground for one before Jamie Smith clips to leg to keep the strike.

The tourists are in a real hole here. The pitch is doing plenty and will only get worse but England have to make sure they put enough runs on the board that it still matters that Pakistan have to bat last on it.

Simon Mann
BBC Test Match Special commentator on BBC Sounds

Sajid Khan has got another one, England are subsiding rapidly. The carrot was dangled and he fell for it.

Alex Hartley
Former England bowler on BBC Test Match Special

Was that the right shot to be taken? England lose their sixth wicket to the spinners.

Now if you're Pakistan you're thinking about bowling England out here.

It's early in the session but it already looks like a change of approach from the England batters with both Jamie Smith and Ben Stokes looking to use their feet.

After skipping down and padding up to a couple, though, Stokes stays put and nails a reverse sweep just in front of square for four.

Jamie Smith is also up and running after lunch as he uses his feet and eases the ball to long-off for a single to end the over.

And what do you know? It's Noman Ali continuing from the other end.

Simon Mann
BBC Test Match Special commentator on BBC Sounds

England are in danger of not making the most of winning the toss.

The ball slides off the outside half of Ben Stokes' bat but into the gap for a single, the first run of the session for England.

Sajid Khan continues with the ball for Pakistan but you could probably have guessed that.

I'll go out on a limb and say it'll be Noman Ali from the other end.

There's no doubt that you can't keep your eyes off it, Taiyab.

A fair contest between bat and ball is what is always talked about when it comes to a good Test pitch.

Is that what we've got in Rawalpindi?

Well, after the second hour of the morning session, it's up to England to turn it into a contest in the afternoon session and, as chance would have it, that's just about to start.