England bowled out for 267 as Pakistan trails at Rawalpindi

On October 24, 2024, the first day of a Test match in Rawalpindi saw England put up a solid total of 267 runs despite facing a challenging pitch that had a tendency to bite. Jamie Smith was the standout performer for England, scoring an impressive 89 runs. However, the English batting was tested, particularly under the unpredictable bounce and spin that the pitch offered, which was expected to complicate batting for both sides. In response, Pakistan started their innings cautiously but lost three quick wickets, leaving them at 73-3 by the end of the day. This early collapse included crucial wickets taken by Sajid Khan, who was unplayable at times, claiming six England wickets and significantly helping his team wrestle some control back into the match. Pakistan's batting line-up is under pressure to show resilience as they adapt to the conditions, which have evoked contrasting styles and strategies from both teams. The captains, Shan Masood and Ben Stokes, have visibly different levels of trust in their bowling line-ups, which could affect their tactics moving forward in the match. With day one concluding, the situation remains precarious for Pakistan, who must stabilize their innings to avoid a sizeable first innings deficit against a determined England side. The outcome of this encounter will depend heavily on how well both teams can adjust to the ongoing conditions in the following days.