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29 March 2024

Pakistan vs England 1st Test Day 1: Malik ton lifts Pakistan to 286-4

Published
By Allaam Ousman

Shoaib Malik hit a brilliant century to cap an impressive return to Test cricket after five years as he led Pakistan's charge in the first Test against England in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday.

Malik was unbeaten on 124 for his third Test hundred - his first against England - to guide Pakistan to 286-4 at close on the opening day at Zayed Cricket Stadium.

Malik shared in a 168-run stand for the second wicket with opener Mohammad Hafeez who missed his century by two runs after Pakistan won the toss and opted to bat on a flat pitch.

Malik has so far hit 14 boundaries in his patient 230-ball knock.

It was also memorable day for veteran batsman Younis Khan (38) who became Pakistan's leading run scorer in Test cricket when he passed Javed Miandad's tally of 8,832 runs made in 124 Tests.

Younis, playing his 102nd Test, jumped out of his crease to hit spinner Moeen Ali for a big six at deep mid-wicket to reach 21, two more than his illustrious countryman Miandad.

Younis said he felt proud at reaching the milestone.

"I had wanted to contribute more runs, but we are still in a good position as Malik played really well," said Younis, who now has 8,852 runs.

"If he (Malik) plays the first two sessions on Wednesday then our position will be further strengthened, he has shown all of us how to make a comeback."

England's pace-cum-spin attack struggled for wickets under hot conditions, bowling some loose deliveries coupled with two dropped catches by Ian Bell - both off James Anderson.

It was Anderson who gave England an early breakthrough when he dismissed Shan Masood (two) in a bizzare manner, with the left-handed opener taking his eyes off a bouncer. The ball hit the grill of his helmet before crashing onto the stumps.

Hafeez hit 13 boundaries during his 170-ball knock before he tried to play on the leg-side in an attempt to reach his ninth Test hundred. He challenged Australian umpire Paul Rieffel's decision but without success.

Anderson, who took 2-29, was unlucky not to account for Hafeez as Bell dropped a regulation catch off the bat in the second slip. Hafeez was then batting on seven.

Hafeez took advantage of the lapse and at 26 hit leg-spinner Adil Rasheed to point boundary to reach 3,000 runs in his 45th Test. He is the 17th Pakistani batsmen to score 3,000 or more runs in Tests.

Malik also had a reprieve when on 40 he was caught in the gully off paceman Stuart Broad only to see the umpire signalling a no-ball.

Paceman Stuart Broad dismissed Younis with a miscued drive which was well taken by Alastair Cook at an unusual position, close to the non-striker end's umpire.

Skipper Misbah-ul-Haq became Anderson's 415th Test wicket when he was adjudged caught behind after England players reviewed the umpires' decision of not out.

Anderson is now the tenth all time wicket taker in Tests.

England's misery was completed when Shafiq was also dropped by Bell at ten, spilling an easy catch off Anderson.

Pakistan's plans to hit England with spin were dealt a blow when their leg-spinner Yasir Shah was ruled out of the match with a back problem.

An unbeaten century by Shoaib Malik (124) on his return to Test cricket after five years has lifted Pakistan to 286-4 in 87 on day one of the first Test against England at Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday.

Shafiq was with him on 11 after being dropped by Bell off Anderson.

Malik's sedate innings contained 14 fours.

He featured in a 168-run stand with opener Hafeez who fell two short of a century. 

Hafeez profited from a life at seven to stroke 13 fours and steady the Pakistan innings after the early dismissal of Masood.

Younis Khan stroked a brisk 37 which contained three boundaries and a six which saw him surpass Pakistan legend Javed Miandad to become his country's leading run-getter in Tests.

Anderson returned superb figures on a flat track of 14-3-29-2.

Bell puts another one down as Shafiq (10) gets lucky this time after edging Anderson. Pak 284-4, 86 overs

Anderson returns to the attack and Shafiq drives his second delivery crisply through the covers for a boundary.

The second new ball has been taken with Pakistan 276-4 after 84 overs.

The second new  ball is available with Pakistan on 268-4 after 80 overs.

Malik has clubbed Anderson through point for a boundary. Pak 261-4, 77 overs.


Misbah is adjudged caught behind off a faint edge with England being successful in overturning the original not out verdict which is given after an eternity. Pak 251-4, 74.3 overs.

Misbah-ul-Haq c Buttler b Anderson 3 (17b 0x4 0x6)

Broad finally gets a wicket and big one that of record breaker Younis Khan who chips straight to short mid-on. Pak 247-3, 70.2 overs.

Younis Khan c Cook b Broad 38 (57b 3x4 1x6)

Malik edges Broad to third man fence to complete an incredible comeback century, his third and first since 2009. Pak 246-2.

Malik is inching closer to a remarkable comeback century with a crunching drive through the covers off Ali. Pak 242-2, 68 overs.

Younis is pushing on getting boundaries off Broad and Ali. Pak 232-2, 66 overs.

The 50 partnership between Malik and Younis comes off 58 balls. Pak 223-3, 64 overs.

Younis Khan breaks Miandad's record in style by hoisting Ali over long on for a towering six to become Pakistan's leading run-scorer in Tests. Pak 215-2, 62 overs.

 


Younis and Malik are showing some aggression after tea slamming boundaries off Ali. Pak 203-2, 60 overs.


Malik ups the ante slamming a couple of boundaries off Stokes. Pak 186-2, 57 overs.

Tea

Hafeez fell two runs short of a century before tea during a session dominated by Pakistan to reach 173 for two on the opening day.

Hafeez fell in the nervous nineties being trapped leg before by Ben Stokes trying to force him through the leg side. The decision was reviewed but the umpire's call was upheld.

Shoaib Malik, who was unbeaten on 72 at the tea interval, survived after edging to Root at gully but Broad's overstepping in his first over after lunch cost England the wicket.

Hafeez used his feet well against debutant spinner Adil Rashid, and scored all around the wicket in a partnership of 168 with Malik.

Pakistan have lost Hafeez for 98 on the stroke of tea trapped leg before by Stokes failing to overturn the decision after review. Pak 173-2, 54.2 overs.

Mohammad Hafeez lbw b Stokes 98 (170b 13x4)

 

 


Hafeez is stepping up the ante moving into the 90s with two consecutive boundaries off Rashid. Pak 165-1, 48 overs.

The 150-run partnership between Hafeez and Malik comes off 265 balls. 

Stokes replaces Ali and is eased to the third man fence by Hafeez who gets another by edging through the slips. Pak 155-1, 47 overs.

Malik smashes a full toss from Rashid for his eighth boundary. Pak 147-1, 46 overs.

Malik punches Adil through the covers and takes the aerial route with the ball falling in no man's land. Pak 135-1, 44 overs.

Malik completes his comeback to Test cricket with his ninth fifty which came off 117 balls and contained six boundaries. Pak 128-1, 43 overs.

Pakistan have added 36 runs in the hour after lunch with Malik surviving after being caught off a no-ball from Broad.

The 100 partnership between Hafeez and Malik comes off 202 balls. Pak 105-1, 37 overs.

Malik (40) survives after being caught in the gully off Broad with replays showing he had overstepped marginally. Pak 101-1, 35.1 overs.

Hafeez slams Anderson square of the wicket through point for the first boundary after lunch. Pak 97-1.

Hafeez completes his 11th Test fifty off 99 balls having hit seven boundaries. Pak 92-1, 32 overs.

Lunch

Pakistan put behind the loss of opener Shan Masood to reach 82 for one at lunch on the opening day of the first Test against England at Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday.

Mohammad Hafeez, who passed 3,000 Test runs for Pakistan in his 44 not out, shared an unbeaten 77-run stand with Shoaib Malik (36), who looked solid in his Test comeback after a five-year gap.

England will rue letting off Hafeez on 7, who edged James Anderson to Ian Bell at second slip.

Anderson surprised Masood with a short ball in the third over which hit the opener on the side of the helmet and ricocheted down onto the stumps.

Hafeez and Malik steadied the innings.

Pakistan suffered a blow even before the toss with leg-spinner Yasir Shah ruled out of the match with a back injury.

Pakistan have made a slow but steady start taking lunch on day one at 82-1 in 27 overs with Hafeez (44) and Malik (36) adding 77 runs in 145 balls after the loss of Masood.

 

Hafeez steps out and lofts Rashid for a boundary.

Hafeez has now surpassed 3,000 Test runs for Pakistan. Pak 72-1, 20 overs.

Malik hits a couple of boundaries off Wood bringing up the 50 partnership with Hafeez off 89 balls. Pak 60-1, 18 overs.

Hafeez slams a full toss from Rashid down the ground for a boundary to bring up Pakistan's 50 in 16.2 overs.

Hafeez again goes after Adil to hoist him for a four and bring up Pakistan's 50 from 16.2 overs.

Hafeez and Malik get a boundary each off Adil and Wood

Adil comes into the attack after the drinks break and Hafeez cracks a boundary off the last ball. Pak 32-1, 13 overs.

Pakistan have made a cautious approach with Hafeez let off by Bell and Malik consolidating after the early dismissal of Masood in the first hour of play which had many interruptions to adjust the sight screen. Pak 28-1, 12 overs.

Malik gets a boundary off the first ball from Wood who replaces Anderson. Pak 22-1, 9 overs.

Hafeez hits the first boundary of the match in the seventh over punching Anderson through the covers and is dropped at second slip by Bell two balls later. Pak 12-1, 7 overs.

Anderson is level with Pakistan great Wasim Akram on 414 wickets after dismissing Masood.


Malik scores his first runs in Test cricket after five years by punching Anderson through point for a couple.

Anderson strikes rattling Masood with a bouncer which ricochets off the helmet onto the stumps. Pak 5-1, 2.5 overs.

Shan Masood b Anderson 2 (6b)

Pakistan are off the mark as Hafeez gets a single off Anderson.

"It's a test of others in the side to show their character," says Misbah who is critical of the management, saying that the absence of another spinner from the party is "disappointing".

Shoaib Malik will play his first Test since August 2010.

 


Of their last 15 Test series abroad England have only won the first Test once, drawn five times and lost nine.

 

Imran Khan Jr replaces injured Shah as Misbah "disappointed" at not being able to play an extra spinner.

Playing XI
 
Pakistan: Shan Masood, Ahmed Shehzad, Shoaib Malik, Younis Khan, Misbah-ul-Haq (capt), Asad Shafiq, Sarfraz Ahmed, Wahab Riaz, Imran Khan, Zulfiqar Babar, Rahat Ali

England: Alastair Cook, Moeen Ali, Ian Bell, Joe Root, Jonny Bairstow, Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler, Adil Rashid, Stuart Broad, Mark Wood, James Anderson


Is it a bad toss to lose? Former England spinner Graeme Swann thinks so.

Adil Rashid makes his Test debut for England.

Key leg spinner Yasir Shah has been ruled out with an injury as Pakistan elect to bat first after Misbah wins the toss.

 

 


Preview

Former Pakistan cricketer Azhar Mahmood has said that it will not be easy for Pakistan to play against England in their upcoming series at United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Mahmood lauded the England side, saying that the team is riding high on confidence as they are playing aggressive cricket from few months, PakPassion reported.

The 40-year-old added that some of the England’s players could prove to be dangerous for Pakistan, adding that it would be a hard-fought series.

Mahmood, however, felt that Pakistan could have one advantage over England that is the latter’s weakness against spin, with Pakistan boasting of the spin duo of Yasir Shah and Zulfiqar Babar, who are known to be lethal on the UAE wickets.

The tour to UAE will be a crucial one for England as they would want to redeem themselves after the thrashing they took last time.

Pakistan will have the psychological edge going into the tour, but England too will go in with a lot of confidence after regaining the Ashes recently.

With quality spinners at the disposal of both sides, it will be crucial as to how the two sides negotiate spin.

Players from the subcontinent are known to play spin well.

Considering that the pitches in UAE will be a spin-friendly, it certainly gives Pakistan the edge.

England have Moeen Ali, Samit Patel and Adil Rashid as their spinners, but they do not have the experience of their counterparts.

England lost 3-0 when they last faced Pakistan in the UAE in 2012, when their batsmen repeatedly struggled on the slow, spin-friendly pitches.

Pakistan have not lost any of the seven Test series they have played in the UAE since 2010.

Yorkshire leg-spinner Adil Rashid - who took 0-55 and 3-53 in the warm-up matches - will make his debut.

The 27-year-old Yorkshire bowler scored 51 with the bat in the first warm-up match against Pakistan A and took 3-53 in the second.

Number three batsman Ian Bell and wicketkeeper Jos Buttler look set to play in the first Test, but both are under pressure after a run of low scores.

Bell, who made 19 and 53 in England's warm-up matches, has gone 17 innings without a century and is averaging just 24.29 this year.

Buttler has not passed 50 in his past eight Test innings and made a total of 41 runs in three innings during the warm-up games.

Although he did not make his Test debut until October 2014 at the age of 28, Yasir has enjoyed a remarkable first year at the top.

He became the quickest Pakistan bowler to 50 wickets - in only nine Tests (Warne needed 14) - and his tally of 61 at an average of 24.81 has taken him to fourth in the International Cricket Council rankings.

However, they have won three and drawn four of their seven Test series since relocating their home matches to the UAE, which includes a 3-0 mauling of England in 2012.

Australia lost 2-0 in the UAE in October 2014, while neither South Africa nor New Zealand managed to win in Pakistan's 'home' conditions in the past two years.

Ben Stokes believes beating Pakistan in the UAE, where they were drubbed 3-0 in the Test series in 2012, would be as big an achievement as regaining the Ashes in England.

Squads (from):

Pakistan: Misbah-ul-Haq (captain), Ahmed Shehzad, Shan Masood, Mohammad Hafeez, Fawad Alam, Asad Shafiq, Younis Khan, Shoaib Malik, Sarfraz Ahmed, Yasir Shah, Zulfiqar Babar, Wahab Riaz, Imran Khan, Rahat Ali, Junaid Khan

England: Alastair Cook (captain), Moeen Ali, James Anderson, Samit Patel, Jonny Bairstow, Ian Bell, Stuart Broad, Jos Buttler, Alex Hales, Liam Plunkett, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Ben Stokes, James Taylor, Mark Wood

Umpires: Bruce Oxenford (AUS) and Paul Reiffel (AUS)
TV umpire: Sundaram Ravi (IND)
Match referee: Andy Pycroft (ZIM)