Without Smith, England may be out of this match. Once again Pakistan were led by Sajid and Noman, who bowled 42 overs together at the start of the innings, taking their total in tandem to 89.5 going back to England’s first innings in the second Test.
England started well. Duckett was strong down the ground, adding 56 with Zak Crawley until Crawley miscued a drive at a wide one off Noman to start England’s blur of poor strokes.
The struggling Ollie Pope was lbw sweeping, Joe Root was bowled on the back foot and Harry Brook missed a sweep, all off Sajid. Duckett was helpless to one Noman got to shoot, then captain Ben Stokes needlessly followed a wide turner from Sajid.
Amid Smith’s onslaught, Pakistan were at least forced to employ Mahmood and Salman Agha, yet it was the skiddy Sajid that mopped up the tail, once again celebrating with his trademark one-legged Kabbadi pose.
Atkinson shared the new ball with Jack Leach to become the first seamer on show, though it needed Atkinson’s replacement Bashir to pin Shafique in front.
Leach got Saim Ayub to pat to mid-wicket and Atkinson castled Khuram Ghulam with one that kept low. England thought they had a fourth, only for Saud Shakeel to overturn being given caught down the leg side off Leach.
