Pakistan pacers strike early blows to dent England

Pakistan fast bowler Sohail Khan returned to Test cricket on Wednesday after a five-year absence and immediately grabbed 4/61 as England reached 184/5 at tea on the first day of the third Test.

The 32-year-old Sohail was one of two changes made by Pakistan after a 330-run defeat in the second test. He took two wickets in each session at Edgbaston, vindicating captain Misbah-ul Haq’s decision to field after winning the toss.

Sohail claimed Alex Hales (17) and in-form Joe Root (3) before lunch and then ended the 69-run fourth wicket stand when he removed James Vince (39) and also had Jonny Bairstow (12) caught behind.

Gary Ballance was 49 not out — his highest score of the four-match series so far — with Moeen Ali undefeated on 15.

Pakistan dropped out-of-form opener Shan Masood for left-handed Sami Aslam while Steven Finn came in for England in place of injured Ben Stokes, who will miss the rest of the Test series.

Scorecard: England (1st innings): A. Cook lbw b Rahat Ali 45, A. Hales c Sarfraz b Sohail 17, J. Root c Hafeez b Sohail 3, J. Vince c Younis b Sohail 39, G. Ballance (batting) 49, J. Bairstow c Sarfraz b Sohail 12, M. Ali (batting) 15. Extras: (lb 1, nb 3) 4. Total: (for 5 wkts, in 54 overs) 184. Bowling: Amir 13-2-45-0, Sohail Khan 16-3-61-4, Rahat Ali 11-2-47-1, Yasir 14-2-30-0