ENG vs PAK: Ollie Robinson, Josh Tongue skittle Pakistan for 171 on Day 1 in Leeds

England dominated the proceedings on Day 1 of the first Test against Pakistan, finishing on 112/2, trailing by 59 runs in the first innings at Headingley, Leeds. Captain Joe Root (37*) and Jordan Cox (23*) saw their team to the close of play with an unbeaten 64-run stand for the third wicket after both openers Ben Duckett (15) and Emilio Gay (33) returned to the pavilion inside the first ten overs.

Earlier, Joe Root’s decision to bowl first was vindicated by the England pace duo of Ollie Robinson and Josh Tongue, who skittled the visitors for just 171 in 48.1 overs. Both Robinson (5/51) and Tongue (5/46) took five wickets apiece, making the most of the bowling-friendly conditions on offer.

Pakistan’s innings got off to the worst possible start as Ollie Robinson trapped Azan Awais in front of the stumps on the very first delivery of the match. This marked the first time that a wicket fell on the first ball of a Test series in England. It was also only the fourth occasion that a wicket fell on the first ball of a Test in the country.

Robinson was relentless with the new ball as he also sent Shan Masood (5) back into the pavilion with a sharp inswinger from over the wicket, leaving Pakistan on 6/2. The only respite for the visitors in the first session came through rain after early lunch was taken due to inclement weather.

After the play resumed in the second session, Imam-ul-Haq (42) and Abdullah Shafique (61) helped Pakistan rebuild their innings with a 91-run stand for the third wicket.

Just when everything seemed under control for the visitors, Josh Tongue’s golden arm got the much-needed breakthrough for England, finding Imam’s outside edge, which carried to Harry Brook, who took a good low catch at second slip.

Tongue runs through the lower order

At the other end, Abdullah Shafique continued his innings and brought up his seventh Test half-century. However, the relentless Ollie Robinson was in no mood to let Pakistan breathe easy as he accounted for the in-form Saud Shakeel, the centurion from the warm-up game, and a well-set Abdullah Shafique (61), leaving Pakistan on 118/5.

After Robinson ran through the top and middle order, Tongue dismantled Pakistan’s lower order, as they lost their last five wickets for 21 runs to get bundled out for 171.