Leeds, August 19, 2026: England seized complete control of the opening Test against Pakistan at Headingley on Wednesday, bowling the visitors out for 171 on the first day after Ollie Robinson and Josh Tongue claimed five wickets apiece.
Pakistan made the worst possible start after England elected to field, losing opener Azan Awais for a duck in the opening over. Robinson trapped the left-hander lbw to strike with his first breakthrough.
The Pakistan innings suffered another setback in the fifth over when former captain Shan Masood was dismissed by Robinson for five off 20 balls, leaving the visitors struggling at 6-2.
Imam-ul-Haq and Abdullah Shafique then mounted a recovery, adding 91 runs for the third wicket. Imam looked set for a half-century before Tongue ended the partnership in the 29th over, with Harry Brook completing the catch to dismiss him for 42 off 74 balls, including six fours.
Shafique continued to resist and top-scored for Pakistan with 61 from 104 deliveries, hitting eight boundaries. However, Robinson bowled him to end another important partnership.
Saud Shakeel made just five before Robinson trapped him lbw, leaving Pakistan in further trouble.
Stand-in captain Salman Ali Agha and Mohammad Rizwan briefly stabilised the innings with a 32-run partnership for the sixth wicket. Tongue, however, struck in the final over before tea, bowling Salman for 21.
The England pacer produced an even more damaging sequence with the very next delivery, trapping Ali Usman lbw for a golden duck as Pakistan went to tea at 150-7.
Pakistan’s lower order offered little resistance after the interval. Khurram Shahzad counter-attacked with 14 off 12 balls, including three boundaries, before edging Robinson to Gus Atkinson.
Tongue then bowled Mohammad Abbas for two, while Mohammad Ali remained unbeaten on nought as Pakistan were dismissed for 171 in 48.1 overs.
Robinson finished with outstanding figures of 5-43 from 17 overs, while Tongue returned 5-42 from 8.1 overs as England’s seamers dismantled Pakistan’s batting lineup.
Pakistan entered the series opener with several changes to their XI. Babar Azam was ruled out with a finger injury, handing the captaincy to Salman Ali Agha, while Shan Masood and Saud Shakeel returned to the side.
Pakistan have won only one of their last five Tests, while England are also looking to rebuild momentum after losing three of their last five matches, including a 2-1 home series defeat against New Zealand.
With Pakistan dismissed for a modest total, England will now look to make the most of favourable conditions and establish a commanding first-innings lead at Headingley.
