England battled through a challenging morning session in Rawalpindi, facing a spinning pitch that lacked bounce and skidded low. The lineup found itself at 110-5 at lunch, with Ben Duckett leading the way with a composed 52. However, a lack of support saw wickets tumbling. Captain Joe Root fell for just 5, lbw to Sajid Khan, leaving England in a perilous position at 80-3. Harry Brook joined Duckett at the crease as they tried to stabilize the innings.
The Pakistan spin duo of Noman Ali and Sajid Khan wreaked havoc, bowling unchanged for 71.5 overs across three innings, taking 17 wickets between them. Duckett tried to steady the ship, reaching his fifty with impressive stroke play. However, a lack of partnerships and quick wickets put pressure on the English batters.
The pitch conditions were challenging, with the ball skidding and spinning unpredictably. England needed to find a way to post a competitive total, as runs on the board were crucial on a surface that was expected to deteriorate further. The visitors needed to build partnerships and eke out every valuable run to give themselves a chance in the series decider.
As the afternoon session resumed, the game hung in the balance, with the outcome uncertain. England faced an uphill battle to set a defendable total and make inroads into the Pakistan batting lineup. The series hung in the balance, with both teams looking to gain the upper hand in a closely fought contest.
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