NEW DELHI: The third Take a look at between Pakistan and England in Rawalpindi made historical past by rewriting the report books with a statistic that had occurred solely as soon as earlier than within the historical past of the sport.
England’s first innings marked solely the second occasion in Take a look at historical past the place no tempo bowling was delivered within the first innings of a match.
The primary prevalence dates again to 1882, when Australia’s Joey Palmer and Edwin Evans bowled 115 four-ball overs in opposition to England on the SCG.
After England opted to bat first, Pakistan handed the brand new ball to spinners Sajid Khan and Noman Ali, who instantly took benefit of the dry pitch, providing flip and low bounce from the outset.
This marked solely the fourth occasion in Take a look at cricket historical past the place two spinners opened the bowling with the brand new ball on the primary morning, and the primary time it occurred in Pakistan.
Sajid and Noman, who shared all 20 England wickets of their series-levelling victory in Multan, bowled a mixed 42 consecutive overs collectively.
Pakistan didn’t use a 3rd bowler within the morning session and Aamer Jamal, their lone seamer, didn’t bowl within the England innings in a good indication of how spin-friendly the wicket is.
Sajid (6-128) and Noman (3-88) tore by way of England’s batting lineup, whereas Zahid Mahmood contributed with figures of 1/44. Salman Agha bowled only one over however remained wicketless.
After a rearguard 89 by Jamie Smith enabled England to submit 267, having stuttered to 110-5 at lunch. England fought again to cut back Pakistan to 73-3 at shut on the opening day of the series-deciding third Take a look at.
On a dry, spin-friendly Rawalpindi pitch, 13 wickets fell on the primary day, with all however one claimed by spinners.
Gus Atkinson was the lone quick bowler to take a wicket, dismissing Kamran Ghulam for 3.
