RAWALPINDI: Spinners made early inroads to reduce Pakistan to 73/3 at stumps on opening day of Rawalpindi test after Sajid Khan’s six-for booked England on 267 despite Jamie Smith’s 89-run knock. Home side got off to a shaky start to their innings as their opener Abdullah Shafique’s poor form continues. The right-handed batter could score 14 before being trapped lbw by Shoaib Bashir. His opening partner Saim Ayub had a similar fortune as he fell victim to Jack Leach after scoring 19.

Pakistan then suffered another blow to their batting expedition as last match centurion Kamran Ghulam (3) perished cheaply, reducing them to 43/3. Following the early debacle, skipper Shan Masood was joined by his deputy Saud Shakeel and the duo made sure to bat through the remaining overs without further damage. Shan and Saud, both unbeaten on 16, will now resume Pakistan’s first innings at 73/3, trailing England by 194 runs. For England, Leach, Shoaib and Gus Atkinson made one scalp each.

England could add only 25 runs after the tea, thanks to Jack Leach’s 16 as Sajid Khan took the final two wickets to claim his second five-wicket haul of the series. Rehan Ahmed became Sajid’s fifth victim as he came down the track only to get deceived by the spin. Meanwhile, Leach got out stumped in an attempt to hit a short ball by Sajid. Other than Sajid’s six wickets, Noman Ali got three while Zahid Mahmood bagged one.