Pakistan collapse to 100-7 against England in 3rd Test

BIRMINGHAM, SEPT 9: Pakistan slumped to 100-7 at lunch on the opening day of the third Test at Edgbaston on Wednesday after yet another dramatic collapse during their sorry tour of England.

Pakistan, already 2-0 down in the three-match series, made four changes to the side that suffered a heavy 194-run defeat in the second Test at Lord's, after which head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed was sacked.

But they again had few answers to the new-ball duo of Ollie Robinson and Jofra Archer, before Josh Tongue got in on the act, as the England quicks made the most of helpful, overcast conditions after home captain Joe Root won the toss.

Pakistan were in desperate trouble at 26-4 inside 10 overs but Saud Shakeel, fresh from his 97 at Lord's, held firm with an unbeaten 37.

Robinson, a thorn in Pakistan's side throughout the series, made the initial breakthrough in a miserly return of 2-9 in eight overs, with Archer (2-18) and Tongue (3-23) also impressive.

Pakistan's latest slump started when recalled opener Saim Ayub was out for a duck, lbw to a typical Robinson nip-backer as the 32-year-old took his 100th Test wicket.

Express quick Archer then undid Azan Awais with a short ball the opener could only lob to a diving Tongue at midwicket.

Abdullah Shafique nicked Robinson to gully and Pakistan, yet to make 200 in any of their four previous innings this series, were four wickets down when the experienced Shan Masood holed out, tamely attempting to pull Archer.

Pakistan captain Babar Azam, without a Test century in nearly four years, was dismissed for just seven, clean bowled by an excellent Tongue delivery that jagged back off the seam.    �"AFP