Gay, Brook fifties keep England on top after Tongue four-for

A timely half-century from Emilio Gay and unbeaten fifty from Harry Brook took England to a first-innings lead against a poor display from Pakistan's batters in the third and final Test of their series at Edgbaston.

On an opening day when 14 wickets fell, Gay and Brook shared a 104-run partnership for the fourth wicket. Their union was broken by exciting Pakistan prospect Razaullah, the 21-year-old quick on debut who removed Joe Root in his first over, then Gay to give Pakistan something to savour after they had been bowled out for just 133 inside 34 overs.

Razaullah was one of three debutants as Pakistan made sweeping changes having sent seven players home after they plunged to a 2-0 deficit in the series. He bowled with eye-catching pace, tricky lateral movement and an energy that belied the crisis his team has found themselves in.

By the close of play, England were 156 for 4, a lead of 23 runs with Brook not out 52 and and Dan Lawrence on 5.

Gay scored his third fifty in 10 innings since making his debut in the first Test against New Zealand in June but it was his first in this series against Pakistan after scores of 33 in England's innings victory at Headingley and 8 and 31 as the hosts won by 194 runs at Lord's.

With movement through the day, both in the air and off a pitch that still offered runs to the disciplined, Gay built his way patiently to a Test career-best 60 off 113 deliveries. He struck nine fours as England rebuilt from 24 for 2 then 39 for 3.

Gay overcame a nasty deflection off the inside edge onto the side of his knee off a brisk delivery from Razaullah but it was the young Pakistan bowler who proved his undoing as Gay edged a 90mph ball onto his stumps.

That was after Razaullah had trapped Root in his crease with one that skidded onto the pad for Root's 10th lbw dismissal in 13 innings.

They put on 26 runs together for the tenth wicket, the highest partnership of an abject innings and more than the total of 20 runs by Pakistan's opening stands across five innings in this series, then took one wicket each as England wobbled.

Ben Duckett fell at the end of the fourth over to a loose drive at Ali which ended up in the hands of a fast-reacting Babar Azam at second slip and Abbas rapped Jordan Cox on the back thigh with an inswinger destined for the top of middle and leg stumps.

Earlier, Josh Tongue took four wickets while Ollie Robinson and Jofra Archer claimed three apiece as Pakistan crumbled, Robinson bowling with the frugality that has been a feature of his summer with his 3 for 15 coming at an economy rate of 1.36.

Saud Shakeel was the only recognised batter in the Pakistan line-up to show any resistance with 43 off 47 balls.

Saim Ayub, playing his ninth Test after returning as Pakistan made four changes in all to their side, survived an early lbw decision on just the fifth ball of the match when Robinson's nip-backer which struck the back thigh pad was shown to be going over off stump. But Ayub was unable to overturn another, correct, lbw call by Chris Gaffaney as Robinson collected his 100th Test wicket in his next over.

Archer saw Azan Awais put down Duckett at first slip, but Tongue held on just three balls later as Awais chipped straight to him at midwicket.

Lawrence took a strong low catch off Abdullah Shafique to give Robinson his second for the match and, in the next over, Archer had his brace as Shan Masood fell tamely via a leading edge to sub fielder Theo Wylie.

Floundering at 26 for 4, Pakistan needed some stability from captain Babar but he fell for just 7 to an excellent delivery from Tongue which seamed in off a good length and tore out his off stump.

With his side now dipping into the ranks of their three debutants, the experienced Shakeel chose to lead.

Debutant wicketkeeper Ghazi Ghori started brightly, cutting Tongue for four off his first ball in Test cricket. He survived an England review for lbw two balls later but, two after that, Tongue pinned him on the back leg with no doubt as to the dismissal.

Shakeel peeled off two fours in three deliveries from Gus Atkinson, through the covers and backward point, but his efforts looked in vain as Tongue nailed his yorker to rattle the stumps of another debutant, Mohammad Imran Randhawa.

Razaullah showed willing and muscle if not aesthetics at No. 9 as he found the boundary twice off Tongue, his pull through midwicket and outside edge over cover not pretty but effective.

Robinson struck shortly after lunch with an outswinger to Razaullah, edged to slip where Duckett held on. Shakeel had his off stump ripped out by a Tongue delivery that seamed through the gate, leaving it to Abbas and Ali to salvage what they could.