Ollie Robinson and Josh Tongue split ten wickets between them on a dramatic opening day at Headingley, routing Pakistan for 171 before England’s batters established firm control of the first Test. Returning captain Joe Root won the toss under overcast Leeds skies and immediately unleashed his seamers, with Robinson trapping Azan Awais leg-before on the very first ball of the match. Though a two-hour rain delay briefly settled Pakistan’s top order—allowing Abdullah Shafique and Imam-ul-Haq to construct a promising 91-run partnership—the visitors succumbed to a familiar collapse, losing their final eight wickets for just 74 runs.
Robinson sparked the middle-order breakdown by removing Imam for a loosely edged drive, followed by a controversial lbw decision against Saud Shakeel that went unreviewed. Robinson then bowled Shafique through the gate, finishing with his fifth Test five-wicket haul. Josh Tongue took over to clean up the tail, producing a 91mph delivery to shatter the stumps before running through Pakistan’s lower order to secure his fourth five-for. Pakistan’s total of 171 marked their lowest first-innings Test score in ten years.
In response, England’s top order attacked aggressively, scoring at over four runs an over despite losing Ben Duckett and Emilio Gay to early strikes from Mohammad Abbas and Mohammad Ali. Joe Root and Jordan Cox steadied the chase with an unbeaten 50-run stand, steering England to 112/2 by stumps—trailing by just 59 runs with eight wickets intact.
