England’s quest for an early victory in the first Test against Pakistan gained significant momentum on Day 3 as fast bowler Jofra Archer made a dramatic impact, sending opener Imam-ul-Haq back to the pavilion for a duck in the very first over of Pakistan’s second innings.
The visitors, facing a monumental deficit, were immediately rocked at Headingley, Leeds.
VIDEO – Jofra Archer celebrates the wicket of Imam-ul-Haq
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Early Breakthrough for England
Steaming in with aggression, Archer found the outside edge of Imam-ul-Haq’s bat, with wicketkeeper Jamie Smith completing a sharp catch. This crucial early dismissal for no runs left Pakistan at 0/1, setting a tense tone for their daunting task of navigating England’s bowling attack and reducing their 238-run trail.
Pakistan’s Batting Collapse
Imam-ul-Haq’s departure was quickly followed by another setback for Pakistan. Jofra Archer continued his impressive spell, securing his second wicket by dismissing Azan Awais, who was caught by Joe Root after scoring 9 runs from 14 balls. Azan Awais’s wicket fell with the score at 13/2 in the 3.5 over, further deepening Pakistan’s troubles. Currently, Shan Masood (5 runs from 9 balls) and Abdullah Shafique (0 runs from 2 balls) are at the crease, battling to stabilise the innings.
Match Situation
England had established a formidable lead by posting 409 runs in their first innings. Pakistan, in response, could only manage 171 runs, conceding a substantial first-innings advantage of 238 runs. At the close of five overs in their second innings, Pakistan stands at 14/2, still trailing England by 224 runs.
This first Test, part of Pakistan’s tour of England 2026, commenced on Wednesday, August 19, at 11:00 AM local time at the historic Headingley ground. With two crucial wickets already down and a significant trail yet to overcome, Pakistan faces an arduous challenge to prevent an early English victory.