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Jack Leach of England, centre, celebrates with teammates after taking the wicket of Abrar Ahmed of Pakistan during the first day of the third Test cricket match between England and Pakistan in Karachi, Pakistan, Saturday, December 17, 2022. (AP Photo/Farid Khan) | photo credit: Farid Khan
Spinner Jack Leach and teenager Rehan Ahmed shared six wickets between them as England bowled out Pakistan for 304 on the opening day of the third and final Test in Karachi on Saturday.
Leach finished with 4-140 and Ahmed 2-89 as Pakistan’s batsmen got off to a good start after Babar Azam won the toss and elected to bat on the turning National Stadium pitch.
But England also fell victim to spin, with mystery tweaker Abrar Ahmed trapping Zak Crawley scoreless, before the visitors ended the day 7–1 up.
Ben Duckett and Ollie Pope were at the crease on four and three respectively as England trailed by 297 runs.
England lead the three-match series 2-0 after winning the first Test in Rawalpindi by 74 runs and Multan by 26 runs.
Captain Azam top-scored for Pakistan with 78, while Agha Salman scored 56 before getting himself run out in the post-tea session.
But the day began with Ahmed – who at 18 years and 126 days became the youngest England player to make his Test debut – when he dismissed Saud Shakeel for 23 in his seventh over.
Prior to Ahmed, Brian Close was the youngest England player at 18 years and 149 days when he played against New Zealand in 1949.
Leach then broke the 48-run eighth wicket partnership between Salman and Nauman Ali (20).
Former England captain Nasser Hussain presented Ahmed with his Test cap in front of his Pakistan-born father Naeem, who described the scene as “the best moment”.
“It’s great to be a part of it. I believe in myself and try to give my best when given the opportunity,” he added.
“They (the England players) supported me throughout the day and I couldn’t have asked for more. It’s a blessing to be playing at such a young age. It’s the best feeling of my life.”
Pakistan head coach Saqlain Mushtaq, who was also a great spinner in his day, praised the youngster.
“It was a very impressive performance as it was his first game. He’s a young chap and he’s got a lot of potential and a very good prospect for the England team.”
Saqlain thought that his team fell behind by 60-70 runs.
“It’s not a bad total, something 60-70 would have been better but we have to play disciplined cricket to restrict them as I feel the pitch will get slower day by day.”
In the morning session, Pakistan lost Abdullah Shafiq (eight), Shan Masood (30) and Azhar Ali (40) before Azam and Shakeel put on a 45-run partnership for the fourth wicket to propel the innings.
But Ahmed had Shakeel caught at short-leg on a defensive shot, before Azam was adjudged run out by wicket-keeper Ben Foakes after a lengthy review.
Azam, who hit nine fours, also added 71 runs for the third wicket with Azhar.
Azhar – playing his last Test – fell at lunch when he was caught by a diving fox off the bowling of fast bowler Ollie Robinson.
Sensing the pitch would spin, England began the attack with Leach dismissing Shafiq lbw in the sixth over of the day.
Leach became the first spinner in 101 years to open the attack in a Test for England – since Jack White had done the same against Australia at Leeds in 1921.
Masood was caught in the trap of short bowling as he pulled fast bowler Mark Wood straight into the hands of deep fine leg fielder Leach.
Masood hit five fours while Azhar hit six fours.
Under pressure to avoid a 3–0 whitewash for the first time at home, Pakistan made four changes to the second Test line-up, while England made two changes, bringing on Fox and Ahmed.
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