England’s 5‑over, 22‑run spell turns Pakistan’s promising start into a 51‑2 nightmare in Rawalpindi

England opened the innings with a blistering 5‑0‑22‑1 spell, a five‑over burst that gave away just 22 runs and claimed a single wicket. The pressure showed immediately – Pakistan slumped to 51‑2 by the 12th over, with only Babar Azam (29) and Saad Baig (11) managing to get past double figures.

The Rawalpindi crowd, initially buzzing for the hosts, fell silent as the numbers piled up. The scoreboard’s 51‑2 figure read like a punch‑line, and even the commentators had to pause to let the reality sink in.

While England’s bowlers celebrated the tight spell, the early collapse left Pakistan scrambling for any foothold. The innings, so far, has been a stark contrast to the hopeful start, and the match’s final outcome remains to be seen.