Rehan Ahmed opened third Test with three-wicket burst before tea

• Rehan Ahmed’s three-wicket burst before tea opened the third Test.
• Ben Stokes held Ahmed back until the fourth hour of the third day.
• Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, and Saud Shakeel all hit half-centuries for Pakistan.

Rehan Ahmed‘s three-wicket burst before tea opened the third Test. Ben Stokes held Ahmed back until the fourth hour of the third day before he bowled Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, and Saud Shakeel to leave Pakistan six wickets behind.

After Babar and Shakeel had put up 110, both achieving half-centuries, Ahmed had a similar impact on the game. He took 3 for 19 in five overs before the break and will bowl in the evening.

Babar and Shakeel teamed for a 110-run fourth-wicket stand with control and patience. Ben Stokes, who hadn’t bowled since the first Test in Rawalpindi, found a glimmer of reverse-swing but struggled.

Ahmed’s arrival after three hours of play transformed the game. When Babar hit him through cover in his second over, he dragged his next ball. Babar, who had reached 50 due to four overthrows, rocked back and pulled firmly, but picked out Ollie Pope at short midwicket, who took a superb chance.

Pakistan began to provide chances as Leach returned to bowl both spinners. Pope was close to two defensive shots from Leach at short leg and silly point.

Shakeel achieved his fourth half-century in his first six Test innings but was out shortly before tea. He misjudged Ahmed’s googly’s bounce and top-edged a sweep to square leg. Pakistan suddenly behind by six with 127 runs.

Leach had already removed Pakistan’s top three in six balls during a hectic 10-minute stretch.

Shan Masood struck the opening two balls of the third day for four, swiping Joe Root through gully and driving him through cover. Leach replaced him after only two overs after he chipped his sixth ball for four and lofted a six.

Abdullah Shafique hit two boundaries off Mark Wood’s short ball to put Pakistan ahead, but Leach struck in his second over. Masood, still playing nicely, got low to reverse-sweep, but Leach found some turn outside his off stump and Masood bottom-edged onto leg.

Azhar Ali’s final international innings was cut short by England’s fielders. His fourth ball pitched full on leg stump but turned away from the bat as he whipped through midwicket. Azhar walked off through a guard of honour from his teammates.

Shakeel and Babar scored below 45% before lunch. They were careful against Leach and Robinson, who turned the ball sometimes and hit Shakeel in the helmet with a bouncer.

Babar avoided a tight lbw shout after shimmying down and pushing Leach off-side. Babar was rescued by the fact that the hit occurred more than 3m from his stumps.

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