The first day of the third Test between Pakistan and England saw the English batters struggle against the spin duo of Sajid Khan and Noman Ali. At one stage the spin duo restricted England to 118/6. At that stage, it looked as if England won’t be able to even post a total of over 200 runs.
However, a fantastic knock of 89 from 24-year-old wicketkeper-batter Jamie Smith would carry England to a fighting total of 267. Smith has had a great start to his Test career. In the 9 matches played so far, he has scored 634 runs, with a hundred and 4 fifties.
Former England cricketer Michael Vaughan was mighty impressed with Smith’s knock and labelled him as the ‘new Adam Gilchrist’ in a post on his official X handle.
“Really good day in the end for England .. Can’t see how this pitch gets better so as with last week the toss crucial . Jamie Smith inside 8 Tests is being labelled the new Gilchrist .. no finer compliment,” Vaughan wrote on X.
Meanwhile, England would want to knock out Pakistan early in the first innings on day 2 after managing to pick up 3 wickets during the final session of the day. The pitch in Rawalpindi is not the easiest to bat and there is plenty of help for the spinners. With the ball keeping low and turning square, a lead of even 50 runs could be significant.
