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Shoaib Malik's century puts Pakistan in command in the 1st Test

Mohammad Hafeez and Shoaib Malik put on 168 runs for the 2nd wicket

Shoaib Malik and Mohammad Hafeez combined to frustrate the England bowlers on a dry surface in the opening day of the 1st Test match at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi. The England fielders were shoddy in the field which stifled the earnest efforts of their bowlers.

At the end of day 1, Pakistan reached 286/4 with Malik still unbeaten on 124* and now look set to pile on the agony for the visiting bowlers. Alastair Cook could be forgiven for imagining how differently the day would have turned out for his men if England grabbed all the opportunities which came their way.

Earlier, Misbah ul Haq won the toss and did not hesitate to bat first on a placid surface. But, Pakistan were dealt an early blow when their trump-card Yasir Shah was ruled out of the test match due to a back spasm. Prior to the test match, they had also lost Azhar Ali who had not yet recovered from a foot injection.

Malik replaced Ali at Number 3. Due to the lack of spin cover for Shah, Misbah had no choice but to induct a third seamer into the playing eleven through Imran Khan. After a pretty long time, England featured six frontline bowlers with Moeen Ali opening the batting alongside Alastair Cook. Mark Wood came in place of the injured Steven Finn.

A fairly moderate weather greeted the England new-ball duo of James Anderson and Stuart Broad. It did not take too long for Anderson to dismiss the opening batsman as Shan Masood’s stumps were clattered when he ducked awkwardly to a bouncer from the veteran swing bowler.

With his team at 12/1, Mohammad Hafeez could have also followed his opening partner to the pavilion. However, Ian Bell dropped a comfortable catch off the bowling of Anderson who was going through a superb spell.

Hafeez and Malik punished the opposition with a composed partnership on a ruthless day for the bowlers. Hafeez entertained the 54-strong crowd with several exquisite drives on both sides of the wicket. At another crucial moment in the day’s play, Malik was reprieved after he slashed a wide delivery into gully fielder’s hands. Unfortunately for the visitors, Broad overstepped.

England were left thinking about the missed chances as Malik continued his brutality against the spinners with his swift footwork and clean striking of the ball. However, they tourists were granted an opening when Hafeez suffered a lapse by walking across a straight delivery from Ben Stokes. Once again, he fell short a century after being dismissed for 98.

Younis Khan walked into the crease and looked intent to getting past Javed Miandad’s Pakistani batting record as soon as possible. Unlike his usual jittery starts, Younis appeared unhurried and constantly charged Moeen Ali. He became Pakistan’s leading run-scorer in Tests when he smashed Ali into the mid-wicket stands.

But, he was soon dismissed after being caught by Cook while attempting to hoist Broad. After Malik reached his third Test hundred, Cook brought back Anderson who rewarded his captain’s decision by getting rid of the solid Misbah. With this wicket, Anderson overtook Wasim Akram’s tally of 414 Test wickets to enter into the all-time top 10.

In a dismissal which triggered controversy, Anderson’s out-swinger apparently glimpsed the edge of Misbah’s bat. When the on-field umpire was not moved, DRS was summoned. After watching the replays for almost ten minutes, the third umpire overturned the decision and sent a surprised Misbah back to the dressing room.

Towards the ends of the day, Ian Bell grassed another straightforward chance off the bowling of James Anderson. Asad Shafiq who was the beneficiary remained at the crease, giving company to a rampaging Malik. With the versatile Sarfaraz Ahmed still to come, Pakistan are on their way to a formidable score.

Meanwhile for England, after a tiring day's work in which they did not do any favors to themselves, the second new-ball could be the only hope of ensuring that their batsmen do not face a mammoth first-innings total.

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