ENG vs PAK 3rd Test Day 1: England Take Command as Josh Tongue & Seamers Humble Pakistan

ENG vs PAK 3rd Test Day 1: England Dominates at Edgbaston as Pace Attack Demolishes Pakistan for 133

Executive Match Overview

England took firm control of the third and final Test against Pakistan on Day 1 at Edgbaston, Birmingham. They skittled a reshuffled Pakistani batting lineup for 133 — then carved out a 23-run first-innings lead by stumps.

The damage came from a relentless seam assault: Josh Tongue (4/42), Ollie Robinson (3/15), and Jofra Archer (3/25) dismantled the visitors in just 33.5 overs, after England chose to field under overcast skies.

England’s reply had a wobble — they slipped to 39/3, including the early loss of Joe Root. But composed half-centuries from young opener Emilio Gay (60) and middle-order counter-attacker Harry Brook (52*) pushed England to 156/4 by close of play.

Holding an unassailable 2-0 series lead after their win at Lord’s, England walks into Day 2 positioned to stretch the advantage and push for a 3-0 series sweep.

Pakistan’s Batting Collapse: Wholesale Changes Fail to Stem the Tide

Pakistan arrived at Edgbaston under intense pressure after two heavy defeats. Team management responded with sweeping roster changes — handing debuts to three players: wicketkeeper-batter Ghazi Ghori, all-rounder Imran Randhawa, and young right-arm pacer Razaullah Khan.

It didn’t help. The new-look top and middle order proved just as fragile against England’s disciplined pace attack.

Pakistan 1st Innings — fall of wickets (33.5 overs total):

[0/1] Saim Ayub (0) — trapped LBW by Robinson
[18/2] Azan Awais (5) — caught off Archer
[24/3] Abdullah Shafique (8) — caught at slip off Robinson
[31/4] Shan Masood (12) — lobbed catch off Archer
[45/5] Babar Azam (7) — bowled by Tongue
[72/6] Ghazi Ghori (4) — LBW to Tongue
[88/7] Imran Randhawa (2) — bowled by Tongue
[105/8] Razaullah Khan (11) — edged off Tongue
[128/9] Saud Shakeel (43) — bowled by Tongue
[133/10] Mohammad Abbas (21) — caught off Archer

Recalled opener Saim Ayub set the tone for a disastrous session, trapped lbw for a duck in the opening overs. Azan Awais (5) followed soon after, miscuing a leading edge to mid-on off Jofra Archer. Abdullah Shafique (8) fell to Ollie Robinson’s persistent tight line, edging low to third slip — and captain Shan Masood (12) threw his wicket away with a mistimed pull off Archer that looped safely to mid-wicket.

Babar Azam’s poor form continued: clean-bowled for 7 by a sharp delivery from Josh Tongue. Tongue then made short work of the debutants, trapping Ghazi Ghori (4) lbw and knocking back Imran Randhawa’s (2) stumps before lunch. The only meaningful resistance came from Saud Shakeel, who produced an aggressive 43 off 47 deliveries — counter-attacking boundaries before a late inswinger from Tongue shattered his stumps. Jofra Archer wrapped it up, dismissing tailender Mohammad Abbas for 21 and sealing Pakistan’s fate inside 34 overs.

English Seam Battery Analysis: Milestones and Lethal Precision

England’s bowling attack operated with clinical accuracy, making full use of the humidity and the seam movement on offer at Edgbaston.

Ollie Robinson Reaches 100 Test Wickets

Ollie Robinson delivered a masterclass in economy and movement. Conceding just 15 runs across 11 overs, he claimed his 100th Test wicket by dismissing Saim Ayub — a genuine career milestone. Robinson became the 50th English bowler to reach the 100-wicket landmark in Test cricket, maintaining an extraordinary career bowling average below 20.

Josh Tongue Tears Through the Middle Order

Josh Tongue inflicted the bulk of the damage, finishing with 4/42. Operating with steep bounce and subtle lateral movement, he accounted for Babar Azam, Ghazi Ghori, Imran Randhawa, and top-scorer Saud Shakeel. His middle-overs spell completely broke Pakistan’s batting spine.

Jofra Archer’s Explosive Pace

Jofra Archer balanced Robinson’s control with raw speed, generating consistent pace in excess of 90 mph. He chipped in with 3/25 in 8.5 overs, striking at both ends of the innings to make sure Pakistan never built any meaningful partnerships.

England’s Reply: Early Wobble to Brook & Gay’s Counter-Attack

England’s innings started dramatically — Pakistan’s new-ball bowlers briefly gave their camp something to cheer about.

England 1st Innings — fall of wickets:

11/1: Ben Duckett (11) — caught behind off Mohammad Ali
22/2: Jordan Cox (4) — caught behind off Mohammad Abbas
39/3: Joe Root (8) — LBW off Razaullah Khan
143/4: Emilio Gay (60) — caught behind off Razaullah Khan

Ben Duckett went first for 11, caught behind off Mohammad Ali. Jordan Cox followed for 4, feathering an edge off Mohammad Abbas. Then the Edgbaston crowd gasped — debutant seamer Razaullah Khan trapped former captain Joe Root lbw for just 8.

At 39/3, Pakistan sensed a way back into the match. Emilio Gay and Harry Brook had other ideas. The pair quickly extinguished those hopes with a century stand.

Key partnership — Emilio Gay & Harry Brook: 104 runs in 24.2 overs at 4.27 runs per over — wiping out Pakistan’s total and putting England in the lead.

Gay anchored the innings with technique and discipline, a patient 60 off 110 balls — his maiden Test fifty. At the other end, Brook played with characteristic flair, punishing anything short or wide. He raced to an unbeaten 52 off 76 balls, striking four boundaries and dictating the tempo of the evening session.

Razaullah Khan eventually broke the stand, dismissing Gay late in the day. Dan Lawrence (5*) joined Brook to see out the final overs safely. By stumps, England had reached 156/4 in 39 overs — a crucial 23-run lead with six first-innings wickets still in hand.

Day 1 Match Statistics & Scorecard Summary

Total Score: Pakistan 133 all out (33.5 overs) | England 156/4 (39.0 overs, stumps)
Top Scorer: Pakistan — Saud Shakeel 43 (47) | England — Emilio Gay 60 (110)
Second Top Scorer: Pakistan — Mohammad Abbas 21 (31) | England — Harry Brook 52* (76)
Best Bowling: Pakistan — Razaullah Khan 2/42 (10 overs) | England — Josh Tongue 4/42 (10 overs)
Supporting Bowling: Pakistan — Mohammad Abbas 1/37 (14 overs) | England — Ollie Robinson 3/15 (11 overs)
Match Lead: England lead by 23 runs

Strategic Analysis & Day 2 Outlook

England’s position at the end of Day 1 leaves them as firm favorites to dictate terms for the rest of the Test.

England’s Objective: With Harry Brook set at the crease and Dan Lawrence alongside him, England will target a first-innings total exceeding 300. A lead over 150–200 runs on an Edgbaston pitch already offering bounce and seam movement would heap pressure on Pakistan’s fragile batting in their second essay.
Pakistan’s Imperative: Pakistan’s seamers — Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Ali, and debutant Razaullah Khan — must strike early on the Day 2 morning to keep England’s lead in check. Removing Brook early is essential if Pakistan want to keep the deficit manageable and stay alive in the match.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What was the final score at the end of Day 1 in the 3rd ENG vs PAK Test?

Pakistan were bowled out for 133 in 33.5 overs. In response, England finished Day 1 on 156/4 in 39 overs, holding a 23-run lead.

Who was the top performer with the ball for England on Day 1?

Josh Tongue led the way with 4/42. Ollie Robinson impressed with 3/15 while claiming his milestone 100th Test wicket, and Jofra Archer took 3/25.

How did Emilio Gay and Harry Brook perform during England’s reply?

After England stumbled to 39/3, Emilio Gay scored a resilient 60 off 110 balls, while Harry Brook hit an unbeaten 52 off 76. Together, they shared a crucial 104-run fourth-wicket partnership.

Which milestone did Ollie Robinson achieve on Day 1 at Edgbaston?

Ollie Robinson became the 50th English bowler to claim 100 Test wickets, getting there by trapping Pakistan opener Saim Ayub lbw for a duck.

What is the current status of the England vs Pakistan Test series?

England holds an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match Test series after winning the second Test at Lord’s by 194 runs.

Conclusion

Day 1 at Edgbaston reinforced England’s dominance throughout the series. Despite Pakistan’s radical team changes, England’s fast bowlers dismantled the top and middle order in under 34 overs. England’s own early wobble was swiftly neutralized by Emilio Gay’s composure and Harry Brook’s attacking flair. Heading into Day 2 with a 23-run lead and six wickets intact, England looks well-placed to complete a 3-0 series sweep.