Shan Masood roared back to form with a magnificent century against England in the first Test in Multan. The Pakistan captain anchored the opening day’s play with an eventful 151-run knock which included 13 boundaries and 2 sixes. Most importantly, it was Masood’s first Test ton in four years. Exactly 1524 days ago, he scored 156 against the same opposition at Old Trafford in August 2020.
Masood had been under pressure to make runs, with his last hundred coming against the same opponents at Manchester in 2020 — 14 Tests and 27 innings ago. He pushed England fast bowler Chris Woakes for a single to complete his fifth Test hundred off just 102 balls with two sixes and 11 fours in a dominant display of batting.
The 34-year-old left-hander was unbeaten on 130 and opener Abdullah Shafique was on 94 as the pair put on a brilliant unbroken 225 for the second wicket after Pakistan won the toss and chose to bat. Shafique was equally assured as the pair made England’s three-pronged pace attack and two spinners toil on a batting-friendly Multan stadium pitch.
Masood went on the attack against Shoaib Bashir, hitting the off-spinner for four boundaries before two more off Atkinson took him to his 11th Test fifty. Shafique, who survived being run out on 34 when Ollie Pope missed the stumps with his diving throw with the batsman well short of his ground, smashed two fours and a six off Bashir to reach his sixth Test half-century.
Earlier, Pakistan captain Shan Masood won the toss and chose to bat. Both the teams have picked three fast bowlers and two spinners in the hope that the pitch will offer early help to the seamers before taking spin later in the match.
Pakistan are on a streak of 10 winless Tests at home, including a shock 2-0 sweep by Bangladesh last month, while England have won five of their last six matches in the longest format.
(With AFP Inputs)
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