Pakistan Test skipper Misbah-ul-Haq on Thursday registered a remarkable century against England during the first of the four Test matches at Lord’s.
His 10th Test century came in 154 balls in his first ever Test match on British shores.
Coming in to bat when Pakistan were struggling at 77/3, the right-handed batsman stablised the ship by establishing a crucial 127-run stand with Asad Shafiq for the fifth wicket.Shafiq, who is just a century away from breaking West Indian great Gary Sobers’ record for the most centuries at number six, stood firm at 61.
Opting to bat first on a sunny morning, Pakistan got off to a cautious start with the first runs coming in the third over of the innings.
The opening pair of Mohammad Hafeez and Shan Masood put up 38 runs together before the latter fell to Chris Woakes' good-length delivery in the right-arm pacer's second over.
Hafeez wobbled on his way to 59-ball 40 before skying Woakes' short-pitched ball into Johnny Bairstow's gloves.
Veteran batsman Younis Khan and One-day International skipper Azhar Ali established a 29-run stand for the third wicket before Ali was dismissed by Jake Ball for seven.
Pakistan looked in trouble when a 57-run partnership between Younis and captain Misbah was broken by Stuart Broad when Younis was out leg before on 33.
This Test marks the return of Pakistan named feft-arm fast-bowler Mohammad Amir after the spot-fixing saga that hit Pakistan cricket six years ago.
He comes back at the iconic venue where his cricketing career came to a gruesome halt in 2010.
For all his time out of cricket, the 24-year-old retains the ability to swing the ball late at sharp pace, as he showed with a first-innings haul of three for 36 in Pakistan's drawn tour opener against Somerset before he was rested from last week's draw with Sussex.
Pakistan fielded three left-arm quicks Thursday in Amir, Wahab Riaz and Rahat Ali, with leg-spinner Yasir Shah completing a four-man attack.
This was Pakistan's first series in England since 2010 and Thursday's match was the 42-year-old Misbah's first appearance at Lord's.
After losing the toss, England skipper Alastair Cook expressed his desire to bat first on the wicket that possesses a tinge of grass on its surface.
Pakistan line-up: Mohammad Hafeez, Shan Masood, Azhar Ali, Younis Khan, Misbah-ul-Haq, Asad Shafiq, Sarfraz Ahmed, Mohammad Amir, Yasir Shah, Rahat Ali, Wahab Riaz
England line-up: Alastair Cook, Alex Hales, Joe Root, James Vince, Gary Ballance, Johnny Bairstow, Moeen Ali, Chris Woakes, Stuart Broad, Steven Finn, Jake Ball
