Pakistan Dominate England on Day 1 at Multan, Shan Masood and Abdullah Shafique Shine with Centuries
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| Abdullah Shafique also hit a century (102), contributing to a 253-run partnership with Masood / PCB |
Pakistan ended Day 1 of the first Test against England in a commanding position, reaching 328/4 after 86 overs on a flat Multan surface that offered little assistance to the bowlers. It was a day to forget for the English attack, who toiled in tough conditions while Pakistan’s batters, led by captain Shan Masood and opener Abdullah Shafique, made full use of the batting-friendly pitch.
After winning the toss, Pakistan skipper Shan Masood had no hesitation in opting to bat first. However, England struck early as Gus Atkinson dismissed Saim Ayub for just 4 runs, giving the visitors some hope of exploiting the new ball. Unfortunately for England, that hope was short-lived.
Masood, promoted to No. 3, joined forces with Abdullah Shafique to take control of the game. The pair put together a mammoth 253-run stand for the second wicket, batting through both the morning and afternoon sessions without losing a wicket. Masood, in his first Test as captain, was the aggressor, playing positive and attacking cricket as he raced to his 5th Test century. He eventually reached 151 before being dismissed in the final session, marking a personal milestone with his first hundred as Pakistan captain.
Shafique, who was more patient early on, reached his own century in the third session, bringing up his 5th Test hundred with a six. However, England fought back late in the day, with both set batters falling in quick succession. Chris Woakes and Jack Leach claimed the vital breakthroughs, removing Shafique for 102 and Masood for 151.
In the final moments of the day, England managed to pick up a crucial wicket as Babar Azam, Pakistan’s former captain, was dismissed for 30 by Gus Atkinson, leaving Pakistan at 328/4. The late wickets provided some relief for the visitors, but they will know they are up against it on a pitch that is expected to deteriorate later in the match.
England's bowling unit struggled to extract any movement or spin throughout the day, with the seamers finding no joy with either the new or old ball. Atkinson (2/70), Woakes (1/58), and Leach (1/61) were the only wicket-takers, while captain Ollie Pope used several different tactics in an attempt to disrupt Pakistan’s batting dominance.
Pakistan will now aim to push towards a total of 500 or more on Day 2, knowing that batting will become much more difficult in the final two days of the Test when the pitch is expected to assist the spinners.
Score Summary at Stumps, Day 1:
- Pakistan: 328/4 (Shan Masood 151, Abdullah Shafique 102, Gus Atkinson 2/70)
Pakistan holds a strong position after Day 1 and will look to build on their solid start, while England’s bowlers will hope for early breakthroughs with the second new ball on Day 2.