England took command of the third Test against Pakistan at Edgbaston after Josh Tongue led another destructive pace-bowling performance on the opening day. Pakistan were dismissed for 133 in 33.5 overs, and England reached 156-4 at stumps to hold a 23-run first-innings lead.
Tongue finished with 4-42, supported by Ollie Robinson's 3-15 and Jofra Archer's 3-25. Pakistan briefly threatened to make the match competitive with the ball, reducing England to 39-3, but Emilio Gay and Harry Brook added a century partnership that shifted control back to the hosts.
England vs Pakistan third Test day-one score
| Team | Score | Key performer | |---|---:|---| | Pakistan first innings | 133 all out | Saud Shakeel 43 | | England first innings | 156-4 | Emilio Gay 60, Harry Brook 52 not out | | Match position | England lead by 23 | Six wickets remaining |
The scorecard leaves Pakistan facing a difficult second day. England already have a lead, Brook is set and the pitch still offers assistance to disciplined pace bowling.
How Pakistan's batting collapsed
England chose to bowl after winning the toss, a decision that immediately paid off in overcast conditions. Pakistan slipped to 26-4 inside the opening hour as the home attack repeatedly hit a testing length and forced the batters to play.
Robinson trapped Saim Ayub lbw to claim his 100th Test wicket in only his 24th match. Archer removed Azan Awais after Tongue produced a diving catch at wide mid-on, and Abdullah Shafique fell to a low catch by Dan Lawrence at gully. Shan Masood then miscued a pull, leaving Pakistan's innings in serious trouble.
Tongue made the most damaging intervention after entering the attack. He bowled captain Babar Azam for seven in his first over, trapped debutant wicketkeeper Ghazi Ghori for four and yorked Mohammad Imran for five. By lunch, Pakistan were 100-7.
The visitors never built the partnership required to change the rhythm of the innings. Saud Shakeel again offered resistance with 43 from 47 balls, but he became Tongue's fourth wicket. The largest stand was the final-wicket partnership of 26 between Mohammad Abbas, who made 21, and Mohammad Ali.
Why Josh Tongue was so effective
Tongue's pace was important, but his control produced the wickets. He attacked the stumps often enough to bring bowled and lbw dismissals into play while also using his bounce to prevent Pakistan's batters from settling forward.
His dismissal of Babar was the pivotal moment. A captain and senior batter is usually expected to stabilise an innings after early wickets; removing him for seven ensured that Pakistan's inexperienced lower middle order was exposed before conditions eased.
England's four-man pace group also worked as a unit. Robinson offered accuracy, Archer supplied speed and Tongue provided a different release height and angle. Pakistan could not simply wait for one bowler's spell to finish because pressure continued from the other end.
Pakistan's three debutants face a severe test
Pakistan handed Test debuts to 21-year-old Razaullah, Ghori and Imran after a turbulent week. Seven players were sent home following the second-Test defeat at Lord's, while coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and assistant Umar Gul were dismissed.
That disruption helps explain the unfamiliar lineup but does not fully excuse another total below 200. Pakistan have failed to reach 200 in the series, a pattern that has placed impossible pressure on their bowlers.
Razaullah nevertheless produced one of the day's most memorable moments. The fast bowler dismissed Joe Root with his fourth delivery in Test cricket and later removed Gay. He touched 90 mph and showed enough movement to trouble England on a helpful surface.
Gay and Brook rebuild England's innings
Pakistan's bowlers gave their team a chance. Mohammad Ali and Abbas removed Ben Duckett and Jordan Cox, before Razaullah trapped Root lbw. England were 39-3 and still 94 runs behind.
Gay and Brook responded with the decisive partnership. Rather than chasing every scoring opportunity, they survived the strongest period for Pakistan's seamers and gradually increased the tempo. Gay made 60 from 114 balls, his highest Test score, before dragging a Razaullah delivery onto his stumps late in the day.
Brook remained unbeaten on 52 alongside Lawrence. His presence is especially significant because England can turn a small overnight advantage into a match-defining lead quickly if he controls the morning session.
What Pakistan need on day two
Pakistan's first target is to dismiss Brook before England move far beyond 200. The bowlers must repeat the fuller lengths that brought early wickets and avoid offering scoring room once the ball becomes older.
Even restricting England to a lead near 70 would leave Pakistan with a route back into the contest. A deficit above 120, however, would make survival extremely difficult given their batting form and England's pace attack.
The match is also about the series. England are pursuing a whitewash, while Pakistan need a response after upheaval in both the team and coaching staff. Their bowlers created an opening on day one; whether they can finish England's innings will determine if the third Test becomes competitive or follows the same one-sided direction as the first two.
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