Pakistan v England: Sajid Khan stars on even day in Rawalpindi

The third Test between Pakistan and England hangs in the balance after an even opening day in Rawalpindi on Thursday.

Pakistan trail by 194 runs at stumps, having bowled out the tourists for 267 before batting to 73/3 before the close of play.

However, England will be pleased with their first-innings total after being in trouble at 118/6 early on day one.

Zak Crawley (29) and Ben Duckett (52) gave the visitors a healthy start as they rollicked out to 56/0 over the opening hour.

A steady stream of wickets came after Crawley edged a drive to gully, with Ollie Pope (3), Joe Root (5), Harry Brook (5) and Ben Stokes (12) all falling for meagre contributions.

After six wickets fell for 62 runs, wicketkeeper Jamie Smith (89) did well to combine with pacer Gus Atkinson (39) for a 105-run partnership to take England through to 223/6 before the tail succumbed.

Spinner Sajid Khan was the primary culprit of England’s mid-innings collapse, with his 6/128 including the vital scalp of Root.

“I’ve played domestic cricket for eight or nine years on different pitches, it’s helped me,” he said.

“Pindi’s turning for a change.

“When you’re playing regularly, you get a sense of what works and what’s positive.

“Root’s one of the best, we’ve tried to plan to get him early and that worked out.

“Of course, Smith played well and got them to a good score, but Root’s wicket was important and felt good.”

In response to England’s first-innings effort, Pakistan made a steady start through Abdullah Shafique (14) and Saim Ayub (19) before both openers fell in quick succession.

Kamran Ghulam (3) also came and went quickly, leaving the home side at 46/3 before captain Shan Masood (16*) and Saud Shakeel (16*) knuckled in to see Pakistan through to stumps.

With the series tied at 1-1, cricket betting sites have England marginally ahead after the opening day of the must-win third Test.

The visitors are paying -125 to win at Bovada, while Pakistan are slight outsiders at +110.

A draw (+4000) is highly unlikely given the result-generating nature of a Rawalpindi pitch that yielded 13 wickets on day one.

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