England cricket team vs Pakistan national cricket team match scorecard: The first Test of Pakistan’s tour of England 2026 began with a dramatic opening day at Headingley, Leeds. Pakistan were bowled out for just 171 in their first innings, while England reached 112/2 by the close of play on August 19. Joe Root and Jordan Cox remained unbeaten, leaving England 59 runs behind Pakistan with three days of scheduled play still remaining.
The match is being played from August 19 to 23, 2026, and is part of the three-Test series between England and Pakistan. The Pakistan Cricket Board has confirmed Headingley as the venue for the opening Test, followed by Tests at Lord’s and Edgbaston.
With the match still underway, this England cricket team vs Pakistan national cricket team match scorecard reflects the position at the end of Day 1 rather than a final result.
England vs Pakistan 1st Test Current Scorecard
| Team | Innings | Score | Overs | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pakistan | 1st innings | 171 all out | 48.1 | Innings completed |
| England | 1st innings | 112/2 | 25.0 | Batting |
| England | — | Trail by 59 runs | — | Stumps, Day 1 |
Pakistan’s 171 came in 48.1 overs, while England finished the day on 112/2 after 25 overs. The official and major cricket reports confirm that England were 59 runs behind at stumps.
Pakistan First Innings: 171 All Out
Pakistan’s first innings was a story of a promising start followed by a sharp collapse.
After England captain Joe Root won the toss and chose to bowl, the decision immediately paid off. Ollie Robinson struck with the first ball of the Test series, setting the tone for an excellent bowling performance from England.
Pakistan managed to reach 171 before losing their final wicket in the 49th over. Abdullah Shafique was the standout batter with 61 runs, while Imam-ul-Haq contributed 42. Salman Ali Agha also made 21, but Pakistan could not find enough support from the rest of their batting order.
The most impressive aspect of Pakistan’s innings was how quickly it fell away after a period of resistance. Once England’s seamers found the right areas consistently, wickets began to fall at regular intervals.
Abdullah Shafique Leads Pakistan’s Batting
Abdullah Shafique provided the main resistance for Pakistan. His 61-run innings helped his side move away from immediate danger and gave the visitors hope of posting a competitive first-innings total.
However, the rest of the batting line-up struggled against England’s pace attack. The Headingley conditions offered assistance to the seamers, and England made excellent use of it.
Imam-ul-Haq’s 42 was another important contribution, but Pakistan ultimately could not convert their starts into a substantial total.
Ollie Robinson and Josh Tongue Take Five-Wicket Hauls
England’s bowling performance was the biggest highlight of the opening day.
Ollie Robinson finished with 5/51, while Josh Tongue took 5/46. The pair shared all ten Pakistan wickets, an outstanding achievement in a Test innings. Reuters reported that Robinson dismissed four of Pakistan’s top five batters before finishing with his five-wicket haul, while Tongue cleaned up the lower order.
For Robinson, the performance was particularly significant because he was returning to the England Test side. His opening spell immediately justified the decision to bring him back into the XI.
Tongue also produced a dangerous spell of pace and movement, keeping Pakistan’s lower order under constant pressure.
The two bowlers’ performances meant Pakistan never had the opportunity to build a huge first-innings total.
England First Innings: 112/2
England’s reply started with two wickets going down, but the hosts recovered well before the close.
At stumps, England were 112/2 after 25 overs, leaving them just 59 runs behind Pakistan’s first-innings score.
The main contributors were:
| England Batter | Runs | Status |
| Ben Duckett | 15 | Dismissed |
| Emilio Gay | 33 | Dismissed |
| Joe Root | 37* | Not out |
| Jordan Cox | 23* | Not out |
Joe Root and Jordan Cox put together an unbeaten partnership to guide England safely through the final part of the day. Root finished on 37 not out, while Cox remained unbeaten on 23.
Joe Root Makes Strong Return as England Captain
One of the major talking points surrounding this Test is Joe Root’s return as England’s Test captain.
Root took over the captaincy following Ben Stokes’ retirement from international cricket. His first major decision was to bowl first after winning the toss, and it proved to be an excellent call.
The England captain then played an important role with the bat. His unbeaten 37 gave England stability after the early loss of wickets.
Root’s experience could become particularly important on Day 2 because England are already within touching distance of Pakistan’s first-innings total. If he can continue his innings and build a sizeable partnership, England could take a significant first-innings lead.
Jordan Cox Impresses on Test Debut
Jordan Cox was another positive for England.
The debutant remained unbeaten on 23, showing confidence alongside the experienced Root. His ability to stay at the crease through the final part of the day gave England exactly the kind of stability they needed.
Cox’s partnership with Root was worth 63 runs at the close, according to the Day 1 reports.
For a Test debutant, spending the first day unbeaten alongside one of England’s most experienced batters is an encouraging start.
Emilio Gay Scores 33 on England Debut
Emilio Gay also made a useful contribution before being dismissed for 33.
Gay’s innings helped England move towards Pakistan’s total after Ben Duckett was removed for 15. Although he could not turn his start into a half-century, his 33 was valuable in the context of a low-scoring Test.
England’s top order will now be looking to turn their promising position into a first-innings advantage on Day 2.
England vs Pakistan Match Details
| Match Detail | Information |
| Match | England vs Pakistan, 1st Test |
| Series | Pakistan tour of England 2026 |
| Date | August 19–23, 2026 |
| Venue | Headingley, Leeds |
| Format | Test cricket |
| Toss | England won and elected to field |
| Pakistan 1st innings | 171 all out |
| England 1st innings | 112/2 |
| England’s deficit | 59 runs |
| Top Pakistan batter | Abdullah Shafique – 61 |
| England top scorer at stumps | Joe Root – 37* |
| Best England bowlers | Ollie Robinson 5/51, Josh Tongue 5/46 |
| Current status | Day 1 completed, match ongoing |
The three-Test series is part of the ICC World Test Championship 2025–27. The PCB’s official schedule confirms the first Test at Headingley from August 19–23, the second at Lord’s from August 27–31 and the third at Edgbaston from September 9–13.
Also read: KL Rahul Dropped Catch: One Missed Chance That Helped Sri Lanka Build a 146-Run Partnership
What England Need on Day 2
England will begin Day 2 just 59 runs behind Pakistan.
The priority for the hosts will be to avoid losing quick wickets in the morning session. Root is already set, while Cox has gained valuable experience from his first day at Test level.
If England can move beyond Pakistan’s 171 without losing many wickets, the pressure will shift firmly onto the visitors.
A first-innings total around 250 or more would give England a significant advantage considering how difficult Pakistan found batting conditions on the opening day.
What Pakistan Need to Do
Pakistan’s immediate objective will be to dismiss Joe Root as early as possible.
Root’s wicket could open the door for Pakistan to put England under pressure. The visitors will also want to see more discipline from their bowling attack after England’s unbeaten partnership at the end of Day 1.
Pakistan’s bowlers Mohammad Abbas and Mohammad Ali had already taken one wicket each, but they will need greater consistency on Day 2.
With England only 59 runs away from parity, Pakistan cannot afford to give the hosts easy runs.
England vs Pakistan Test Series Schedule 2026
The first Test at Headingley is the opening match of a three-Test series.
| Test | Date | Venue |
| 1st Test | August 19–23 | Headingley, Leeds |
| 2nd Test | August 27–31 | Lord’s, London |
| 3rd Test | September 9–13 | Edgbaston, Birmingham |
The official PCB schedule confirms all three fixtures.
England vs Pakistan T20 World Cup Meeting Was Different
It is important not to confuse this Test match with the earlier meeting between the two teams at the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.
That was a completely different format and match. England defeated Pakistan by two wickets while chasing Pakistan’s 164/9.
The current England cricket team vs Pakistan national cricket team match scorecard concerns the first Test at Headingley, where Pakistan made 171 and England reached 112/2 at the end of Day 1.
England Cricket Team vs Pakistan National Cricket Team Match Scorecard: Day 1 Summary
The opening day clearly belonged to England.
Pakistan’s 171 was below the total they would have wanted after winning several important moments during the first part of their innings. Abdullah Shafique’s 61 was the major positive, but England’s seamers were too strong once the conditions became favorable.
Robinson and Tongue taking five wickets each was the defining moment of the day. England then followed that performance with a controlled batting effort.
At the end of Day 1, England were 112/2, with Joe Root on 37 not out and Jordan Cox on 23 not out. They need only 60 more runs to take the lead over Pakistan’s first-innings total.
The match remains wide open, but England have clearly put themselves in the stronger position after the first day.
Also read: India Sri Lanka Cricket Match Scorecard: India 288/2 on Day 1 of Historic 1st Test in Galle
conclusion
The England cricket team vs Pakistan national cricket team match scorecard currently shows England in a promising position after the opening day at Headingley. Pakistan’s 171 all out gave England a realistic opportunity to take control, and the hosts responded with 112/2.
The biggest positives for England have been the five-wicket hauls from Ollie Robinson and Josh Tongue and Joe Root’s unbeaten 37. For Pakistan, Abdullah Shafique’s 61 remains the standout batting performance.
With England only 59 runs behind and Root still at the crease, Day 2 could prove crucial in deciding which team gains the early advantage in this three-Test series.
Latest score at the end of Day 1: Pakistan 171 all out; England 112/2 — England trail by 59 runs.
