Jack Leach and Rehan Ahmed Shine for England on Spinners’ Day During the Third Test Against Pakistan

Spinners Jack Leach and Rehan Ahmed, both just 19 years old, combined for six wickets as England bowled Pakistan out for 304 on the first day of the third and final test match in Karachi.

After Babar Azam won the toss and elected to bat first on a shifting field at the National Stadium, Jack Leach concluded with four wickets for 140 runs, while Ahmed ended with two for 89 runs as Pakistani hitters ruined strong starts.

However, England was also defeated by spin, with Abrar Ahmed’s mysterious tweaker capturing Zak Crawley without him scoring and the visitors finishing the day with a score of 7-1. England is currently behind by 297 runs, and Ben Duckett and Ollie Pope are batting at the crease with a total of four and three respectively.

After claiming victory in the first test match in Rawalpindi by a margin of 74 runs and in the second test match in Multan by a margin of 26 runs, England currently holds a 2-0 lead in the three-match series.

Agha Salman made 56 runs for Pakistan while their skipper, Azam, scored 78 runs before getting himself out in the post-tea session. Azam’s score was Pakistan’s highest.

Saud Shakeel was bowled for the score of 23 in Ahmed’s seventh over, and this marked the beginning of the day for England. Ahmed, who was 18 years and 126 days old at the time, became the youngest England player to start a Test match when he accomplished this feat.

Before Ahmed, Brian Close held the record for the youngest England debutant when he made his debut against New Zealand in 1949 at the age of 18 years and 149 days.

The eighth wicket stand of 48 runs between Salman and Nauman Ali was eventually broken by Jack Leach, who entered the fray at that point (20).

During the morning session, Pakistan suffered the loss of Abdullah Shafique (eight), Shan Masood (30), and Azhar Ali (40), but Azam and Shakeel appeared to have stabilised the innings by putting up a 45-run stand for the fourth wicket.