BIRMINGHAM, England: England edged ahead of Pakistan by 23 runs at the end of a gripping opening day of the third Test at Edgbaston on Wednesday, with half-centuries from Emilio Gay and Harry Brook helping the hosts recover from an early wobble and close at 156/4.
Brook was unbeaten on 52 alongside Dan Lawrence on five at stumps, while Gay top-scored with a determined 60 off 114 balls, including nine fours. England’s advantage came after Pakistan were dismissed for just 133 in their first innings.
Pakistan’s debutant Razaullah was the standout bowler for the visitors, claiming two wickets, while Mohammad Abbas and Ali took one each.
Debutant Razaullah strikes twice as England take opening-day lead
Read more ➡️ https://t.co/u21rZBVt4V#ENGvPAK pic.twitter.com/kn6mNFfFRD
— PCB Media (@TheRealPCBMedia) September 9, 2026
England resumed their innings after Pakistan’s collapse with Gay and captain Joe Root at the crease. Their third-wicket partnership, however, lasted only 15 runs before Razaullah trapped Root lbw in the second over of the final session.
Brook then joined Gay and counter-attacked effectively, with the pair producing a crucial 104-run partnership for the fourth wicket to put England in control.
Razaullah finally ended the partnership late in the day by dismissing Gay, who remained England’s leading scorer. Brook and Lawrence then adopted a cautious approach, adding an unbeaten 13 runs for the fifth wicket to ensure England finished the day ahead.
🚨 3rd Test England vs Pakistan 🚨
🔹 Day 1 | Stumps 🔹#England 🏴 : 1️⃣5️⃣6️⃣-4️⃣ (39)
– Harry Brook* : 52 (76)
– Dan Lawrence* : 5 (10)• Razaullah : 2-42 (9)
ENGLAND 🏴 LEAD BY 2️⃣3️⃣ RUNS#ENGvPAK #PAKvENG #Cricketpic.twitter.com/UIdAfA93vY https://t.co/UIdAfA93vY https://t.co/4mGJSfGshO
— Cricket Lover 🏏 (@Crick97924Lover) September 9, 2026
Earlier, Pakistan’s first innings folded for 133 in 33.5 overs after they resumed the post-lunch session at 100/7. Saud Shakeel offered strong resistance, scoring 43 off 47 deliveries with seven fours, while Abbas contributed a fighting 21 from 36 balls.
Ollie Robinson struck early after the interval, dismissing Razaullah for 11, before Josh Tongue removed Saud to further accelerate Pakistan’s collapse. Abbas was the final wicket to fall, caught after a 21-run stay against England’s attack.
Tongue was England’s most successful bowler, finishing with four wickets for 42 runs from 10 overs, while Robinson claimed three wickets. Jofra Archer also impressed with three for 25 in 7.5 overs.
Read Also: England Pace Trio Tears Through Pakistan as Visitors Bowled Out for 133
Pakistan had endured a difficult start after being put into bat. Robinson dismissed returning opener Saim Ayub for a duck in the third over, while Archer removed Azan Awais for nine to reduce Pakistan to 14/2.
Robinson then struck again to dismiss Abdullah Shafique for three, before Archer removed former captain Shan Masood for five, leaving Pakistan struggling at 28/4.
Tongue added to Pakistan’s problems by bowling captain Babar Azam for seven in the 15th over, reducing the visitors to 48/5. Debutant wicketkeeper-batter Ghazi Ghori briefly opened his Test account with a boundary but was dismissed for four by Tongue.
Fifties from Gay and Brook give England a first-innings lead by the end of Day 1 at Edgbaston, after another feeble batting display from Pakistan
Scorecard: https://t.co/JLHCwfY42r pic.twitter.com/i9AgNNwsC8
— Cricinfo (@cricinfo) September 9, 2026
Another debutant, Imran Randhawa, also fell to Tongue for a short score, leaving Pakistan in serious trouble at 84/7 before Saud and the lower order mounted a brief resistance.
For the first time in a Test innings in England, a team’s top five batters were all dismissed for single figures, with Pakistan’s top five falling cheaply at Edgbaston.
Read Also: Razaullah: Can Pakistan’s New Pace Prodigy Challenge English Batters in Third Test?
With England ending the opening day 23 runs ahead and six wickets still in hand, the second day promises another crucial contest as Pakistan look to strike back early and prevent the hosts from building a decisive advantage.
