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PAK Vs ENG 1st Test Day 1 Highlights: Shafique And Masood Slam Sublime Tons To Ensure Pakistan's Dominance

Masood and Shafique shaped their respective centuries on Day 1 [Source: @TheRealPCB/x]Masood and Shafique shaped their respective centuries on Day 1 [Source: @TheRealPCB/x]

Pakistan seized firm control of the opening day of the first Test against England at the Multan Cricket Stadium courtesy of sublime centuries from struggling opener Abdullah Shafique and captain Shan Masood.

Here’s the timeline of how PAK vs ENG panned out in Multan:

PAK vs ENG Highlights: Shafique, Masood Lift Pakistan After Atkinson’s Opening Burst

English seamer Gus Atkinson landed the opening punch within the first minutes of play by getting rid of Pakistan opener Saim Ayub for just four. Overcoming the early setback, Ayub’s opening partner Abdullah Shafique forged Pakistan’s extensive defiance with captain Shan Masood for the second wicket.

The two cricketers listed swift half-centuries, and batted out the remainder of the 25-over opening session to navigate Pakistan to 122-1 by lunch.

PAK vs ENG Highlights: Shan Masood Ends Test Century Drought With A 102-Ball Ton

Abdullah Shafique and Shan Masood also batted out the entire second session of the day to take Pakistan to 233-1 from 52 overs, thus extracting 111 runs from 27 overs’ worth of play in between lunch and tea. With a partnership now standing at 225*, they had recorded their 200th run together from just 247 delivers in the 45th over of the innings.

Shan Masood ended his four-year wait to notch up his fifth Test match century, bringing up the landmark figure from 102 balls with 10 boundaries and a couple of sixes. Shafique himself was approaching his century at 94* before walking out for Tea break.

PAK vs ENG Highlights: Pakistan Lose Both Centurions To England’s Late Fightback

Abdullah Shafique also brought up his fifth Test century, albeit with a six off Jack Leach in the third over of the post-Tea session. Taking 171 deliveries to reach the milestone, the elegant right-hander was eventually dismissed by Gus Atkinson at 261-2 in 59.5 overs.

With a wait of more than 56 overs between the first two Pakistani wickets, the Englishmen also curtailed Shan Masood’s Multan epic just a couple of overs later in the innings. Masood’s 151-run knock, glittered with 13 boundaries and a couple of sixes from just 177 balls, marked his second 150-plus score in Test cricket.

Pakistan also lost Babar Azam in the final moments before closing at 30 to Chris Woakes after his 61-run partnership with Saud Shakeel had steered their team past the 300-run mark. Forming forces at 324-4, Saud Shakeel (35*) and night watchman Naseem Shah (0*) saw off the remaining few overs to take Pakistan to 328-4 by stumps.