Pakistan’s batting woes continued as their vulnerability against the moving ball was brutally exposed, bundling out for 171 by England’s pace duo of Josh Tongue and Ollie Robinson on the opening day of the Headingley Test.

After Robinson pinned Azan Awais on the very first ball of the series and trapped Shan Masood in front at the score of six in the fifth over, Pakistan fought back to reach 97 for two. However, they suffered a major collapse, losing their last eight wickets for just 74 runs. With the fresh red cherry, Mohammad Abbas dismissed Ben Duckett (15) and Mohammad Ali accounted for Emilio Gay (33) to leave England at 112 for two at stumps.

Joe Root defied the trend of the last six Headingley Tests – where teams batting first went on to win – by making a brave decision to bowl first. Tongue and Robinson justified his faith perfectly, sharing all ten wickets between them in a display of relentless seam bowling.

Tongue finished with career-defining figures of five for 46, while Robinson dismantled the top and middle-order to finish with five for 51. Jofra Archer and Gus Atkinson bowled the remaining 23 wicketless overs between them as Pakistan’s fragile innings lasted just 48.1 overs.

The pace duo bowled with supreme accuracy and controlled swing. Of the ten dismissals, five Pakistan batters were adjudged leg before wicket, three were clean bowled, Imam-ul-Haq was caught at second slip by Harry Brook, and Khurram Shahzad was caught by Atkinson.

Abdullah Shafique was the lone bright spot, displaying excellent temperament and shot selection until he was castled by a Robinson delivery that jagged back in sharply off the seam. Abdullah made a fighting 61 from 104 balls, including eight boundaries, reaching his seventh career Test half-century off 82 deliveries.

Aside from Abdullah, Imam-ul-Haq batted sensibly for his 42, while stand-in captain Salman Ali Agha chipped in with 21 before being bowled by Tongue.

Beyond Azan and Shan, Saud Shakeel (5), Mohammad Rizwan (12), and Ali Usman (0) were the other batters to fall to the LBW trap.

England ended the day in complete control at 112 for two, trailing by just 59 runs. Joe Root (37 not out) and Jordan Cox (23 not out) will resume the host’s innings on Thursday morning.

Scores in brief (day 1 of 5)

PAKISTAN 171 all-out, 48.1 overs (Abdullah Shafique 61, Imam-ul-Haq 42, Salman Ali Agha 21, Khurram Shahzad 14, Mohammad Rizwan 12; Josh Tongue 5-46, Ollie Robinson 5-51)

England 112-2, 25 overs (Joe Root 37 not out, Emilio Gay 33, Jordan Cox 23 not out, Ben Duckett 15)