Pakistan batsmen set up a solid foundation by end of Day 1 with the help of a massive 168 run partnership between Shoaib Malik and Mohammad Hafeez.

By PakPassion.net Staff (13th October, 2015)

Stumps Day 1: Pakistan 286-4 (Shoaib Malik 124* , Mohammad Hafeez 98)

Toss: Pakistan won the toss and elected to bat first

Pakistan Team: Mohammad Hafeez, Shan Masood, Shoaib Malik, Younis Khan, Misbah-ul-Haq*, Asad Shafiq, Sarfraz Ahmed†, Wahab Riaz, Zulfiqar Babar, Rahat Ali, Imran Khan

England Team: AN Cook*, MM Ali, IR Bell, JE Root, JM Bairstow, BA Stokes, JC Buttler†, AU Rashid, SCJ Broad, MA Wood, JM Anderson

First Session:

Pakistan already started on the back-foot when Misbah at the toss confirmed the news of Yasir Shah missing out on injury. On what looked like a very flat track, the Pakistan captain won the toss and unsurprisingly chose to bat. Fast bowler Imran Khan replaced Yasir Shah while Shoaib Malik also made a comeback after five years in place of the injured Azhar Ali.

Shan Masood was dismissed early when he was surprised by a short ball from James Anderson which deflected off his helmet on to the stumps. Shoaib Malik was sent in at number 3 to join Mohammad Hafeez. The pair kept the scoreboard ticking over, often finding the boundary and quickly looked settled in excellent batting conditions. The duo put up a partnership of 77 runs after the early dismissal to take the home team to a strong position at 82-1 at lunch.

Second Session:

Pakistan began the second session where they left off. Shoaib Malik did however get a lifeline when he was caught at point off Stuart Broad. The decision was overturned as Broad had overstepped and a no-ball was called. The partnership between Hafeez and Malik had reached 168 when Ben Stokes dismissed Hafeez LBW for 98. Tea was immediately called and overall Pakistan went in to the dressing room with their heads high scoring 91 runs in the session. Malik will look to push on to a century in the final session where he will be joined by the stalwart Younis Khan, who will be looking to become Pakistan's highest Test run scorer.

Third Session:

Younis Khan walked in to join Shoaib Malik at the crease with only 18 runs to get to become the highest run scorer for Pakistan in Test matches. He did that in style by hitting Moeen Ali for a six over the deep mid wicket boundary to break the record that Javed Miandad (8832 runs) held for more than two decades.

Shoaib Malik reached his third Test hundred with a four off Broad, his first since 2009. Later in the session, aggression got the better of Younis Khan as he hit one to Cook at short mid-on after scoring 38. Pakistan were 3 down for 247 at this stage as skipper Misbah-ul-Haq walked in. He didn't last long and was caught behind after a massive caught behind appeal which was adjudged against him by the third umpire upon review.

Shoaib Malik continued with his run scoring along with Asad Shafiq who saw the day off and made sure Pakistan don't lose more wickets. It could have been better for England as Anderson found Shafiq's edge late on, but once again Bell put down a simple chance at slip. The home team ended the day in a commanding position at 286-4.

Fall of wickets:

Shan Masood 1-5 (2.5 overs)
Mohammad Hafeez 2-173 (54.2 overs)
Younis Khan 3-247 (70.2 overs)
Misbah-ul-Haq 4-251 (74.3 overs)

Summary

An enthralling days play in front of a sparse crowd kicked off this series which promises to be a tough and closely fought one. Shoaib Malik and Mohammad Hafeez with their batting may well have provided Misbah-ul-Haq with the wiggle room that he so badly needed due to the absence of Yasir Shah. England didn't help themselves either with dropped catches but they will need to pick themselves up for tomorrow or else Malik on current form could put this game out of reach for them.

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