Pakistan made England really feel the warmth on day one of many Check sequence in Multan, the place a stand of 253 between Shan Masood and Abdullah Shafique left the vacationers with a struggle on their palms.
On their earlier go to to the nation two years in the past it was England who seized management on the opening day, smashing 506 in Rawalpindi, however the boot was on the opposite foot this time because the hosts racked up 328 for 4.
An early breakthrough from Gus Atkinson proved a false daybreak as current Yorkshire captain Masood reeled off an impeccable 151 alongside the resolute Shafique, who supported with 102.
Three wickets within the night, together with Chris Woakes’ late strike towards the damaging Babar Azam, had been sufficient to boost spirits within the away camp however this was a reminder {that a} repeat of their 3-0 whitewash in 2022 will likely be no straightforward feat.
Gruelling Circumstances
In temperatures which topped 37 levels on the sphere England took 56 gruelling overs to half the centurions and, regardless of their greatest makes an attempt to brush the matter apart, could have regretted the absence of bowling coach James Anderson.
Probably the most prolific seamer in Check historical past, nudged into retirement and straight on to the backroom employees over the summer season, missed the preparations on account of his participation within the Alfred Dunhill Hyperlinks golf match and was not scheduled to the touch down till day two of the match.
Having excelled right here final trip, Anderson’s experience would have been a worthwhile useful resource for a seam unit comprising Woakes on his first look in Asia for eight years, Check debutant Brydon Carse and Atkinson in his first abroad outing.
England’s weary heads lifted halfway by way of the night session when each set batters perished inside three overs, Shafique chipping Atkinson to level and Masood punching a low return catch to Jack Leach, however fatigue was absolutely an element with each gamers visibly battling bouts of cramp.
Opening Session
Regardless of dropping an necessary toss issues began encouragingly for England when Saim Ayub stepped throughout his stumps and nicked Atkinson down the leg-side to Jamie Smith having scored simply 4. It was a tender dismissal however acquainted territory for a gap pair who’ve but to to succeed in double figures in seven innings collectively.
Past that preliminary success there was valuable little pleasure for England. Woakes’ hopes of shaking off his disappointing document on the highway had a sluggish begin in an uneven new-ball spell, whereas Atkinson lacked the additional zip to disturb the batters’ rhythm.
Newcomer Carse was faster, quickly nudging 90mph, however his hopes of a maiden wicket had been dashed when an lbw towards Masood was overturned by DRS. England shifted their plans after an hour, pairing Shoaib Bashir’s spin with a spherical of bouncers from Carse.
Neither ploy labored, Bashir unsettled as his first six overs price 42 – together with 4 boundaries in eight balls and 6 from Shafique off his final supply.
England might have burgled a wicket when Shafique took a dangerous single on 34 however Ollie Pope missed the stumps from shut vary as the prospect went begging.
Afternoon Session
Resuming after lunch on 122, and with each batters previous fifty, it was time for Masood to speed up. He helped himself to a few sixes, pulling Carse with a swivel of the hips and clattering Leach over long-on afterwards to spoil a run of stable overs from the returning sluggish left-armer.
He ticked off his hundred in simply 102 balls, his fifth Check ton however first because the Covid summer season of 2020 at Previous Trafford.
England misplaced a overview when Bashir thought he had Masood caught at slip on 115 and when there was a uncommon edge, from Shafique towards Woakes, it skipped broad of the cordon for 4 runs.
Night Session
Shafique had waited patiently to affix his skipper on three figures, taking tea on 94, however when he noticed the prospect he threw every part at it.
Galloping down the pitch at Leach, he hoisted a good-looking shot all the best way over the promoting boards for one more six.
When Pope did not seize a half-chance off Masood on 133 England’s wait seemed prefer it would possibly go on all day however their luck lastly modified.
With a hoop of shut fielders stationed in entrance of sq., Atkinson tossed one into the channel and persuaded Shafique to pick Pope with an easier providing at level.
The reduction was palpable and, with the spell lastly damaged, they quickly had Masood too. Leach was the deserved beneficiary on this event, greedy a low return catch as simply reward for his self-discipline.
Babar and Saud Shakeel (35 not out) added one other 61 earlier than the second new ball did its job, Woakes pinning Babar lbw to finish a taxing day on the up.
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