1st Test
Day-1 Evening Session Highlights:
Shan Masood and Abdullah Shafique has piled on the runs on Day 1 in Multan
At The Stumps of Day-1:
Pakistan scored 328/4 vs England
Centuries from Shan Masood (151) and Abdullah Shafique (102) lifted Pakistan to 298 for 3 on Day 1 of the first Test in Multan.
The pair shared a 253-run partnership for the second wicket, the second-highest overall at the ground.
England’s bowlers enjoyed some assistance in the first hour of play, but the conditions quickly turned favorable for the batters, who capitalized on the flat pitch.
Masood’s century was his first since becoming Pakistan’s captain, and he and Shafique scored briskly at 4.5 runs per over, marking the third-highest run rate for a 200-plus partnership for Pakistan.
Shafique brought up his hundred after the Tea break with a towering six off left-arm spinner Jack Leach.
Masood, who reached his century at almost a run a ball, maintained his aggressive approach, dispatching Brydon Carse and Leach to the boundary.
He brought up his 150 with a powerful pull shot to the deep on the onside.
England’s sole wicket-taker before lunch, Gus Atkinson, finally made the breakthrough, dismissing Shafique with a simple catch to cover-point.
A few overs later, Leach took a sharp low catch off Masood’s edge, giving England two quick wickets and a glimmer of hope.
Babar Azam, the incoming batter, had a lucky escape when he nearly dragged a short delivery from Atkinson onto his stumps.
But the hope was short-lived, as Saud Shakeel capitalized on the match-up with Leach, scoring three boundaries in an over.
The pair continued to rotate the strike and find occasional boundaries after the drinks break, keeping the scoreboard ticking.
When England took the second new ball, Atkinson was greeted by Babar with a crisp boundary through extra-cover.
However, Babar’s poor form in Tests continued as he was trapped in front by Chris Woakes in the penultimate over of the day, taking a review with him.
Earlier in the day, Pakistan elected to bat first but suffered an early setback as Saim Ayub was dismissed down the legside by Atkinson.
After surviving a challenging spell, where they were repeatedly beaten and hit on the pads, Masood and Shafique took full advantage of the favorable conditions, both reaching half-centuries before lunch.
Pakistan then piled on the runs in a faultless second session, scoring 101 runs without losing a wicket, as Masood brought up his century.
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