Smith's 89 sparks England's comeback, reaching 242-8 at tea in third Test

Jamie Smith fell just 11 runs short of a century, but his impressive innings helped England reach 242-8 at tea during the crucial third Test against Pakistan. The visitors were struggling at 118-6 thanks to four wickets from spinner Sajid Khan, but Smith's performance lifted England's spirits.

The 24-year-old smashed a 119-ball 89 studded with six towering sixes and five boundaries before he was caught off a miscued slog against spinner Zahid Mahmood in the last over before tea.

At the break, Rehan Ahmed and Jack Leach were unbeaten on two and one respectively, as England added 132 runs after stumbling to 110-5 at lunch.

England lost captain Ben Stokes in the third over after the break, caught off spinner Sajid Khan for 12 but Smith and Gus Atkinson added 105 for the seventh wicket.

Smith, who reached half-century off 94 balls, carted two sixes off Mahmood before he holed out to the same bowler.

The morning session was dominated by Sajid and Noman Ali who bowled unchanged for 42 overs. Sajid has figures of 4-117 and Noman 3-79.

After England won the toss and batted, Pakistan gave the new ball to Sajid and Noman who benefited from the parched pitch offering spin and low bounce from the first ball.

Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett raced to 56 in a confident start but England lost Crawley , Ollie Pope and Joe Root in the space of just 24 runs.

Noman had Crawley caught off a miscued drive while Sajid trapped Pope and Root leg-before.

Duckett, who completed a half-century off 76 balls, was trapped leg-before by Noman for 52 after hitting four boundaries and a six.

First Test triple centurion Harry Brook lasted for 14 deliveries before being bowled behind his legs by Sajid for five after he failed to connect on a sweep.

Both the teams included three spinners on a grassless pitch which the hosts dried with fans and heaters in the build-up.

Sajid and Noman shared all 20 wickets in Pakistan's second Test win to level the series at 1-1 after England won the first by an innings, with both matches taking place in Multan.

sh/dh

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