Pakistan hold slender advantage on Day 1 of first Test against England
England elected to field after winning the toss, but Azan Awais fell for a duck as the visitors began their innings on 19 August 2026.
England won the toss and elected to field against Pakistan in the opening Test of the series at Headingley, Leeds, on 19 August 2026. The decision to bowl first placed immediate pressure on the visiting side as they began their five-day contest.
Pakistan batted first, with the innings progressing slowly in the early stages. By the close of play on Day 1, the visitors had reached 4 for 1 from 4.2 overs, according to the scorecard reported by Sky Sports. The low scoring rate reflected the tight bowling figures displayed by the English attack.
The first breakthrough came when Azan Awais was dismissed for 0 runs. The wicket fell just 0.1 overs into the innings, with Awais lbw to Mark Robinson. Shafique took the catch, providing early support to the bowler who had begun the day with a strong economic display.
Mark Robinson finished the day with figures of 1 wicket for 4 runs from 2.2 overs. His counterpart, Jofra Archer, bowled 2 overs for 0 runs, claiming 2 maidens but no wickets. The disciplined bowling performance kept Pakistan’s score in check during the opening session.
Batsmen Imam and Shan remained not out on 1 and 3 runs respectively at the end of the day’s play. The pair navigated the early overs carefully, building a small but stable foundation for Pakistan’s first innings.
The match officials for the fixture included umpires Chris Gaffaney and Allahudien Paleker, with Paul Reiffel serving as the TV umpire. Ranjan Madugalle was appointed as the match referee for the contest, which forms part of the broader Pakistan tour of England.
The scorecard data provided by Sky Sports indicates that the match is in its early stages, with final outcomes yet to be determined. The focus now shifts to how Pakistan will build on their modest start as the series progresses.
