Watch: Zak Crawley misses well-deserved century as Aamer Jamal takes a juggling catch in Multan

England opening batter Zak Crawley fell short of a century in the first inning of the series opener against the Pakistan national cricket team.

Left-arm pace bowler Shaheen Afridi provided an early breakthrough for his team in the morning session of the third day as fielder Aamir Jamal took a juggling catch.

The England national cricket team resumed their innings at 96-1 on day three of the first Test, with Zak Crawley and Joe Root at the crease.

However, the visitors lost the wicket of Crawley. The Ollie Pope-led team lost their second wicket for 113 runs in response to Pakistan's mammoth score of 556 runs.

Shaheen Afridi Provides Early Breakthrough For Pakistan On Day 3

Pakistan was desperate to break the partnership between Zak Crawley and Joe Root. The pair rescued the England team after Ollie Pope's dismissal for a duck on Day 2.

Crawley reached an impressive fifty while Root made history as the first batter to score 5,000 runs in World Test Championship history.

However, Shaheen Afridi provided the first wicket for Pakistan on Day 3 during the 25th over of England's first innings.

The left-arm pacer bowled a ball outside off from around the wicket. Crawley flicked straight into the hands of mid-wicket fielder Aamer Jamal, who almost made a mess with the catch.

Jamal, who took a spectacular catch to dismiss Ollie Pope, almost dropped it before securing it on his second attempt. Zak Crawley was left stunned, along with a few England fans, after his dismissal. Crawley ended his innings with a score of 78 runs off just 85 deliveries with the help of 13 boundaries.

Watch: Aamer Jamal Takes Juggling Catch To Dismiss Zak Crawley

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) took to X (formerly known as Twitter) to share the dismissal of Crawley on the third day of the ongoing Test match. "Pouched on the second attempt! 🙌 Wicket no. 2 for Pakistan, catch no. 2 for Aamir Jamal 🏏," wrote the caption.

Pouched on the second attempt! 🙌

Wicket no. 2 for Pakistan, catch no. 2 for Aamir Jamal 🏏#PAKvENG | #TestAtHome pic.twitter.com/9Jyln5W4B0

— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) October 9, 2024

It Would Have Been A Boudary - Ramiz Raja

Former Pakistan cricketer Ramiz Raja said that if the ball had gone a few inches in another direction, it could have been a boundary. Raja said that it was a missed opportunity for Crawley, who had been dominating the bowling attack led by Shaheen Shah Afridi.

"A few inches here or there and it would have been a boundary, because it was timed so brilliantly. Aamer Jamal took the catch on the second attempt as it was hit so hard. But what a waste of a knock from Zak Crawley as he was absolutely bossing Shaheen Shah Afridi and company," Ramiz Raja said, as quoted by BCC Test Match Special.

Crawley has recorded seven fifties since his last Test century against Australia in Manchester in 2023. However, he has been dismissed between 70 and 80 runs six times, including today. He has smashed three centuries and 14 half-centuries in his career, with a century conversion rate of just 18%.

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