BIRMINGHAM: Sohail Khan marked his return to Test cricket after a five-year absence with a maiden five-wicket haul as Pakistan dismissed England for 297 on the first day of the third Test at Edgbaston.
After Sohail sparked a top-order collapse, England were indebted to left-handers Gary Ballance (70) and Moeen Ali (63) for taking them to what could yet prove a challenging total.
Sohail, a 32-year-old right-arm quick, removed a quartet of top-order batsman on his way to figures of five for 96 in 23 overs.
Sohail’s previous two Tests had yielded a combined haul of one for 245.
Sohail was recalled in place of Wahab Riaz as Pakistan broke up the all left-arm pace attack they had deployed for the first two Tests.
Sohail took the new ball after Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq won the toss on a gloomy morning, with some moisture in the pitch after overnight rain.
Alex Hales fell for an unconvincing 17 when caught behind off a good-length Sohail ball.
Joe Root, playing one of his favourite back-foot forcing shots, edged Sohail and was held by M6ohammad Hafeez for just three.
Skipper Cook, carrying on from where he left off in Manchester, made 45 in 52 balls, including eight fours before Rahat Ali had him lbw.
Cook reviewed but was duly given out to leave England 75 for three.
James Vince guided England to 100 for three at lunch. But on 39, an uncertain defensive prod outside off stump against Sohail saw Vinces edge low to second slip Younis Khan.
Jonny Bairstow made just 12 before, trying to cut a sharply bouncing Sohail delivery, he was caught behind by opposing wicket-keeper Sarfraz Ahmed.
Sohail had taken two for six in 10 balls, with England now 158 for five.
Ballance, increasingly assured after a shaky start, hit 11 fours. But his 150-ball innings ended when a glance off leg-spinner Yasir Shah was well held by Ahmed, who made good ground to hold the tough chance.
Ballance’s exit ended a sixth-wicket stand of 66 with Ali.
Chris Woakes was then caught behind for nine off an excellent Rahat inswinger. Ali completed a 99-ball fifty when he pulled Rahat for his fifth four.
Mohammad Amir, who appeared to be nursing a calf problem, then struck twice with the new ball, including removing Ali when the batsman’s loose drive saw Ahmed hold his fifth catch of the innings. Sohail, appropriately, ended the day’s play when had No 11 James Anderson lbw for five.
Score Board
Pakistan won toss
England 1st innings
*A N Cook lbw b Rahat 45
A D Hales c Sarfraz b Sohail 17
J E Root c Hafeez b Sohail 3
J M Vince c Younis b Sohail 39
G S Ballance c Sarfraz b Yasir 70
†J M Bairstow c Sarfraz b Sohail 12
M M Ali c Sarfraz b Amir 63
C R Woakes c Sarfraz b Rahat 9
S C J Broad c Azhar b Amir 13
S T Finn not out 15
J M Anderson lbw b Sohail 5
Extras (lb 1, w 1, nb 4) 6
Total (all out; 86 overs) 297
Fall: 1-36 2-48, 3-75, 4-144, 5-158, 6-224, 7-244, 8-276, 9-278, 10-297
Bowling: Amir 16-3-53-2; Sohail 23-3-96-5(4nb); Rahat 20-4-83-2(1w); Yasir 27-3-64-1
Pakistan team
Mohammad Hafeez, Sami Aslam, Azhar Ali, Younis Khan, *Misbah-ul-Haq, Asad Shafiq, †Sarfraz Ahmed, Mohammad Amir, Rahat Ali, Yasir Shah, Sohail Khan
Umpires: B N J Oxenford (Australia) and J S Wilson (West Indies). TV umpire: H D P K Dharmasena (Sri Lanka). Match referee: R B Richardson (West Indies)