England out for 354 in reply to Pakistan's 304 in third Test

KARACHI (AFP) - Harry Brook struck a fighting hundred and Ben Foakes added a crucial half-century before England were bowled out for 354 in their first innings of the third and final Test in Karachi on Sunday.

Brook's (111) and Foakes (64) helped guide England to 354 all out, giving them an improbable 50-run first-innings lead after the visitors were teetering at 145-5.

For Pakistan, spinner Nauman Ali grabbed 4-126 while Abrar Ahmed finished with 4-150.

England lead the three-match series 2-0.

Earlier, England spinners Jack Leach and Rehan Ahmed had shared six wickets between them as Pakistan were dismissed for 304 on the opening day of the third and final Test in Karachi. Leach grabbed 4-140 and Ahmed had finished with 2-89 as Pakistan batters spoiled good starts after Babar Azam won the toss and batted on a turning National Stadium pitch.

But England had also fell prey to spin, with mystery tweaker Abrar Ahmed trapping Zak Crawley without scoring before the visitors closed the day on 7-1. Ben Duckett and Ollie Pope were at the crease with four and three respectively as England trail by 297 runs.

England had led the three-match series 2-0 after winning the first Test by 74 runs in Rawalpindi and the second in Multan by 26 runs. Skipper Azam had top-scored for Pakistan with 78 before running himself out in the post-tea session, while Agha Salman made 56.

But the start of the day belonged to Ahmed -- who at 18 years and 126 days old had become the youngest England player to start a Test -- when he dismissed Saud Shakeel for 23 in his seventh over. Before Ahmed, Brian Close was the youngest England debutant at 18 years and 149 days when he played against New Zealand in 1949. Leach then came into the act, breaking a stubborn eighth wicket stand of 48 between Salman and Nauman Ali (20).