Summary

  • Third Test, day one, Rawalpindi - England win toss & bat

  • Series level at 1-1

  • Pakistan close on 73-3, trailing by 194

  • Bashir, Leach and Atkinson strike in final session

  • England 267: Smith 89, Duckett 52; Sajid 6-128

Live Reporting

by Sam Drury & Matthew Henry

  1. Tea - Eng 244-8

    Jack Leach pulls for a single to end the over, and the session.

    A good one for England all told, especially after losing Ben Stokes early on, but those two late wickets of Gus Atkinson and Jamie Smith means they'll end it a tad disappointed.

  2. Alex Hartley
    Former England bowler on BBC Test Match Special

    Soft dismissal. Jamie Smith won't be happy with that. I don't mind him playing those shots but before tea, he didn't need to.

  3. Aatif Nawaz
    BBC Test Match Special commentator on BBC Sounds

    That's going to be a very frustrating shot for a lot of people. Jamie Smith has batted today with a lot of maturity and calmness.

    He's walking back frustrated.

  4. wicket

    WICKET

    Smith c Rizwan b Zahid 91 (Eng 243-8)

    No century for Jamie Smith but a fantastic innings.

    He went for a big slog-sweep. Got a top-edge and the ball went straight up.

    Muhammad Rizwan came round from behind the stumps and takes a straightforward catch.

    A deserved wicket for Zahid Mahmood but a disappointing end for Smith so close to tea.

  5. Eng 242-7

    Careful, Alex, he's not reached 100 yet...

    An altogether more quiet over - I think we all needed it after the excitement of the last one - with just two singles from it.

    Five minutes or so until tea.

  6. Alex Hartley
    Former England bowler on BBC Test Match Special

    The way Jamie Smith has gone from 0 to 50, then 50 to 100 is remarkable.

  7. dropped catch

    Smith dropped on 89

    Eng 240-7

    Let's be very clear, it is extremely harsh to call this a drop by Sajid Khan.

    Jamie Smith was looking for another straight six. Sajid Khan took the catch above his head but had to throw the ball up before he tumbled over the boundary cushion.

    He was able to get back to the ball but the throw was taking it over the fence so he has to put in another brilliant dive to flick the ball back and prevent the six.

    Fantastic fielding. Technically a drop, though.

  8. Aatif Nawaz
    BBC Test Match Special commentator on BBC Sounds

    It was a rubbish ball, it was full toss, just launched at the batter.

  9. Alex Hartley
    Former England bowler on BBC Test Match Special

    Not something that you want to be bowling when someone is fired up and needs the runs.

  10. 6 runs

    Eng 237-7

    Smith 87, Ahmed 0

    Not if he gets served up horrible full tosses...

    Jamie Smith is down the pitch to Zahid Mahmood and clubs a shocking delivery over long on for six.

    Six more! That's fabulous shot. Skips down again and this time clears long off with ease.

  11. Eng 225-7

    Oh, Dan...

    Rehan Ahmed is the new batter for England. He'll hope to continue the good work start by Gus Atkinson alongside Jamie Smith.

    Will that wicket make Smith alter his approach?

  12. Get Involved

    #bbccricket, via WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (standard network charges apply)

    I put the cricket on at breakfast time and watched us lose six wickets. Then went out to get my car fixed for the last two hours and no wickets lost. I just got back and put the cricket back on, so apologies to all if the wickets start falling again.

    Dan, Yorkshire

  13. Alex Hartley
    Former England bowler on BBC Test Match Special

    That's a soft dismissal. He's done well this game, helped put up the score.

  14. Aatif Nawaz
    BBC Test Match Special commentator on BBC Sounds

    Catch is taken by Noman, Gus Atkinson is gone after an excellent, sensible innings.

  15. wicket

    WICKET

    Atkinson c&b Noman 39 (Eng 225-7)

    The change of bowling works!

    A valuable contribution from Gus Atkinson but an impressive stand comes to an end as he chips one back to Noman Ali.

    No pace on the ball whatsoever as Atkinson tries to force the ball back down the ground off the back foot.

    The ball stopped in the pitch, though, and the England man dollies back a simple return catch.

  16. Shan Masood is keen to regain some control so goes back to experienced Noman Ali.

    Can the left-arm spinner slow England's momentum?

  17. Alex Hartley
    Former England bowler on BBC Test Match Special

    Sajid Khan is starting to decline. What is his process, how does he get back into his bowling?

  18. Soham Sarkhel
    CricViz analyst

    Four out of Jamie Smith's five 50+ knocks in Tests have come while the team has been under some sort of pressure:

    1. 111 off 148 balls v Sri Lanka, Manchester, 2024; came into bat at 125-4
    2. 95 off 109 balls v West Indies, Birmingham, 2024; came into bat at 169-6
    3. 67 off 50 balls v Sri Lanka, The Oval, 2024; came into bat at 66-4, which became 82-7
    4. 61* off 98 balls today after coming into bat at 98-5
  19. 100 runs

    Eng 224-6

    Down the ground now.

    Good use of the feet from Jamie Smith before pumping Sajid Khan for six more.

    That brings up the 100 partnership. A vital one for England.

  20. 6 runs

    Eng 217-6

    Slog sweep and the power of Jamie Smith sees the ball fly high over the on side for six.

    This England pair have clearly seen enough. It's go time for the Bazballers once more...