Robinson and Tongue Claim Five Each as England Take Charge at Headingley

Ollie Robinson and Josh Tongue took five wickets apiece as England dismissed Pakistan for 171 before reaching 112-2 on the opening day of the first Test at Headingley. BBC Sport reported that the hosts closed 59 runs behind, with captain Joe Root unbeaten on 37 and Jordan Cox 23 not out.

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Root, beginning his second spell as England captain, won the toss and chose to bowl. Robinson struck with the first delivery of the match, trapping Azan Awais leg before wicket, and consistently used the movement available from a full length. He finished with 5-51, while Tongue returned 5-46 as Pakistan were bowled out in 48.1 overs.

Pakistan recovered from the early setback through Abdullah Shafique and Imam-ul-Haq, who added 91 for the third wicket. Shafique top-scored with 61 and Imam made 42, but Tongue broke the partnership by having Imam caught at second slip. A rain delay of almost two hours also interrupted the innings.

The tourists then lost their final five wickets for 21 runs. Tongue took four wickets for five runs in an 11-ball burst, dismissing stand-in captain Salman Ali Agha, Ali Usman, Mohammad Rizwan and Mohammad Abbas. Robinson removed Shafique with a ball that moved back into the batter and completed his haul when Khurram Shahzad was caught at mid-on. According to BBC Sport, Robinson and Tongue became the first England pair in 20 years to take five wickets each in the same Test innings.

England began their reply quickly but lost both openers with the score on 48. Mohammad Abbas trapped Ben Duckett leg before wicket, while Emilio Gay, after making 33, edged Mohammad Ali to second slip. Root and Cox then added an unbroken 64, taking England through to the close without further damage.

The performance gave Root a strong first day back in charge after Ben Stokes retired from international cricket. England entered the match having won only two of their previous 10 Tests, while Pakistan were without injured captain Babar Azam. Rain was forecast for portions of the next two days, but England’s rapid work with the ball created time to pursue a result in the five-day match.