BIRMINGHAM: England pacers dominate Pakistan as the visitors were bowled out for just 133 on the opening day of the third Test at Edgbaston in Birmingham. A superb display of fast bowling from Josh Tongue, Ollie Robinson and Jofra Archer left Pakistan struggling from the early stages of their first innings.
Plenty of action as England and Pakistan got going on Day 1 at Edgbaston 📸#WTC27 📝: https://t.co/VX96s1N5BF pic.twitter.com/gNf6UsmafL
— ICC (@ICC) September 9, 2026
Pakistan resumed after lunch at 100 for seven but could add only 33 more runs before their innings ended in 33.5 overs. Saud Shakeel offered the strongest resistance, scoring 43 from 47 deliveries with seven boundaries. Mohammad Abbas also battled hard for his 21 from 36 balls, but England’s attack continued to apply relentless pressure.
England Pacers Dominate Pakistan as England Take 5 Wickets for 48
Robinson immediately made an impact after the interval, dismissing Razaullah with only the third ball of the session. The Pakistan No. 9 had scored 11 runs, including two boundaries, before edging behind. Shakeel and Abbas briefly attempted to rebuild the innings, adding six runs for the ninth wicket, but Tongue ended Shakeel’s resistance.
Archer then completed the innings by removing Abbas, finishing with impressive figures of three wickets for 25 runs from 7.5 overs.
England Pacers Dominate Pakistan as Tongue was England’s standout bowler, claiming four wickets for 42 runs in 10 overs, while Robinson picked up three wickets. Earlier, Pakistan’s innings had suffered a disastrous start after England won the toss and chose to field. Robinson struck in the third over when returning opener Saim Ayub was trapped lbw for a 10-ball duck. Archer soon removed Azan Awais for nine, leaving Pakistan in deep trouble at 14 for two.
England Pacers Dominate Pakistan as Robinson added another wicket by dismissing Abdullah Shafique for three before Archer accounted for former captain Shan Masood, who managed only five runs. The pressure intensified when Tongue bowled captain Babar Azam for seven in the 15th over, reducing Pakistan to 48 for five.
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Test debutant Ghazi Ghauri was next to depart for four, leaving Pakistan six wickets down for 64. The visitors had entered the Birmingham Test needing a major turnaround after England established a commanding 2-0 lead in the three-match series.
Pakistan made four changes to their playing XI, with Ghazi Ghauri, Razaullah and Imran Randhawa handed Test debuts, while Saim Ayub replaced Imam-ul-Haq.
England are now firmly in control of the contest and will look to build a decisive first-innings advantage. Pakistan, meanwhile, face another uphill battle as they attempt to avoid a series whitewash and secure their first Test victory in Birmingham.
