Will Jacks picks up his first Test wicket as England pick up three Pakistan wickets before lunch

Both Pakistan openers hit centuries as the runs continue to flow in Rawalpindi… but Will Jacks picks up his maiden Test wicket and Jack Leach takes two scalps as England claim three wickets before lunch

  • Abdullah Shafique and Imam-ul-Haq both scored centuries for Pakistan
  • England finally made a breakthrough when Will Jacks dismissed Shafique
  • Jack Leach then removed Imam-ul-Haq and Azhar Ali later in the session
  • Pakistan went to lunch at 298-3, still 359 runs drift of England’s total 

England’s bowlers finally broke through on the third morning of the first Test, including a maiden wicket for Will Jacks – but not before Pakistan’s openers each added to the game’s burgeoning tally of hundreds.

At lunch, after Jack Leach removed Azhar Ali in the first over with the second new ball, Pakistan were 298 for three, still trailing by 359. If nothing else, England had prised open a door that had threatened to slam shut.

Before that, with the Rawalpindi pitch steadfastly refusing to change character from the surface that had yielded 838 runs over the first two days, Abdullah Shafique and Imam-ul-Haq extended their partnership from its overnight 181 to 225 – Pakistan’s highest for the first wicket against England.

Abdullah Shafique hit a century and kissed the turf in celebration after reaching the landmark

Imam-ul-Haq also went to three figures in the morning session at Rawalpindi

Imam-ul-Haq also went to three figures in the morning session at Rawalpindi

For the first time in Test history, both teams had enjoyed double-century opening stands in their first innings – a comment, more than anything, on the pitch.

If Ben Stokes’s bowlers might reasonably have been wondering where a wicket was going to come from, the answer was provided by Jacks. Twelve mainly harmless overs on the second day had brought none for 50, and his fifth ball of the morning – short and wide – promised little.

Instead, Shafique – on 114 – contrived to edge a cut, which was well held by Ollie Pope behind the stumps, and England were on the board.

Moments after drinks, they doubled their tally, as Imam lofted Jack Leach towards long-on, where Ollie Robinson backpedalled and clung on: 245 for two, with Imam out for 121 – the game’s sixth hundred, and all inside seven sessions.

Will Jacks (L) took his first Test wicket and was congratulated by captain Ben Stokes

Will Jacks (L) took his first Test wicket and was congratulated by captain Ben Stokes

Jack Leach picked up two wickets as England fought hard to claim three wickets before lunch

Jack Leach picked up two wickets as England fought hard to claim three wickets before lunch

For a slowly growing crowd, this wasn’t necessarily bad news, and cheers immediately went up for the arrival of Babar Azam, Pakistan’s captain and batting glamour boy. From his fifth ball, he forced Leach off the back foot between midwicket and mid-on. Babar was up and running.

A morning that had begun 15 minutes early in an attempt to make up for overs lost to bad light had until now been spin-dominated. But, after Joe Root rubbed the ball on Leach’s bald forehead in search of sweat and therefore reverse-swing, Stokes brought on Robinson and, soon after, Jimmy Anderson.

Anderson looked especially threatening, and might have had Azhar caught at leg slip on 17 by Zak Crawley, only for the ball to burst through his fingers as he dived low to his left.

With Anderson finally finding a smidgen of reverse, it seemed unclear why Stokes would take the new ball only 10 minutes before lunch. Stokes clearly knew better.

Leach got its fifth delivery to straighten and, after what felt like an age, umpire Ahsan Raza agreed with his appeal. Azhar’s inevitable appeal produced only three reds: the ball had straightened a fraction on pitching, and England were cock-a-hoop.

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