Summary

  • Pakistan rack up 328-4 after winning toss

  • England battle hard on flat pitch, with Gus Atkinson taking two wickets, including centurion Abdullah Shafique

  • Jack Leach removes Shan Masood (151) on return to side

  • Chris Woakes pins Babar Azam lbw with second new ball to give England renewed hope

  • First Test, day one, Multan

Live Reporting

Sam Drury

  1. Get Involved

    Via WhatsApp on 03301231826

    In response to Joe (10:09), since the pandemic, England have played 7 away series and only lost the first Test once (the Ashes) and won 5 of the 7, this includes two India series so I think it is unfair to label England as slow starters.

    Will

  2. Pak 214-1

    It's not much but there is a fraction of movement for Chris Woakes, who is still keeping the ball full to both batters.

    However, they're both seeing it so well that it is of little concern to Shan Masood and Abdullah Shafique.

    With about 20 minutes until lunch, it is looking increasingly likely that England may need a mistake from the batters to break this stand - and so far, one has not been forthcoming.

  3. Alex Hartley
    Former England bowler on BBC Test Match Special

    Shoaib Bashir bowlsGetty Images

    I feel since lunch Shoaib Bashir has bowled more economically.

    Every time I've seen his deliveries they seem to have been dot balls and he's managed to get both batters on the front foot.

  4. Pak 209-1

    Shan Masood cuts for a single to bring up the 200 partnership for the second wicket.

    Impressive stuff from the Pakistan pair but you wouldn't be shocked to see another stand of this size on this pitch, would you?

  5. Steven Finn
    Former England fast bowler on BBC Test Match Special

    It was played with soft hands from Abdullah. It was just drifting away and it gives you the sense that the ball might be offering a hint of swing.

    Because it was played with soft hands it just dribbles past first slip where Joe Root was standing.

  6. Pak 207-1

    Chris Woakes finds the edge... but it's played with soft hands by Abdullah Shafique.

    The ball bounces short and wide of slip before running away to the boundary.

    Not even close to a chance but it somehow feels notable just for the fact England found the edge of the bat.

  7. Get Involved

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    I definitely don't want to criticise the players. They're trying their best on a wicket and in conditions that are entirely new to them. What I am willing to criticise is the lack of prep, and the obsession with white ball cricket. It's kind of disrespectful to Pakistan. The Ashes would never be treated like this, and in my opinion all Test series should be taken just as seriously.

    James

    I know this is how things are these days but is this another example of England underestimating an opponent? Bob up a few days before the Test, get tonked to begin with, try and pull it back later in the series. Not good enough.

    Joe, Esher

    It is worth mentioning that Pakistan have prepared for this series with a domestic 50-over competition too. That was off the back of them losing a two-Test series to Bangladesh in late August.

  8. 200 runs

    Pak 202-1

    Abdullah Shafique plays a shotGetty Images

    Pakistan's 200 comes up as Abdullah Shafique and Shan Masood calmly go about their work.

    They're grinding England down and the bad news for the bowlers is that, if we get all the scheduled overs in, they're not even halfway through their work for the day.

  9. Steven Finn
    Former England fast bowler on BBC Test Match Special

    I think a top edge would have gone higher than that, it has hit something only soft for it to balloon like that - Pope was reluctant to send it upstairs.

    Masood will be a relieved man after the noise around the captaincy and the fives losses in a row.

    You want to assert yourself in a Test series in the first morning and he's done just that.

  10. Not out

    England never looked convinced and no wonder. The ball clearly missed bat and glove before ballooning up off the thigh pad.

    Ollie Pope's wretched record on reviews goes on.

  11. England review

    Ben Duckett looks on after taking a catchReuters

    Breakthrough for England?

    The ball loops up after Shan Masood tries to sweep Shoaib Bashir and Ollie Pope calls for a review.

    Seems optimistic but the tourists are getting pretty desperate.

  12. Pak 199-1

    Chris Woakes is into the third over of his spell and now has a slip and a gully as he bowls over the wicket to the left-handed Shan Masood.

    With no swing - conventional or reverse - he's just angling it across Masood, bowling full and just trying to vary his pace.

    Masood, well set and having passed 100, is more than equal to it and works a pair of twos before keeping strike with a single from the last.

  13. Jonathan Agnew
    BBC cricket correspondent

    England's Joe Root and Chris WoakesReuters

    England are flagging here.

  14. Pak 194-1

    Well that one moment of excitement aside, it is another over of grind for England.

    That Shoaib Bashir did manage to get the ball to turn so sharply, even if only once so far, is something for them to cling to as the sun beats down in Multan.

  15. Pak 190-1

    Where did that come from?!

    A beauty from Shoaib Bashir. Flighted, pitching on middle and ripping past Shan Masood's outside edge to hit high on the back thigh.

    That will give England some much-needed encouragement.

  16. Steven Finn
    Former England fast bowler on BBC Test Match Special

    I like this angle to Shan Masood.

    I got him out in domestic cricket by angling it out from around the wicket. You're asking him to play a half bat to leg-side.

  17. Pak 189-1

    After seeing so much short stuff from the seamers in this session, it is refreshing to see Chris Woakes bowling so full and giving the ball every chance to reverse swing.

    There is not much doing, though, and the one slip is soon brought out.

    Meanwhile, Shan Masood continues on his merry way, pouncing on a bit of width to guide the ball wide of point for four.

  18. Alex Hartley
    Former England bowler on BBC Test Match Special

    Gus Atkinson looks on as Pakistan's batters talkGetty Images

    I'm impressed with how England have come out after lunch and they still have energy in the field.

    I prefer Chris Woakes' field compared to the other bowlers, but Pakistan are in total control.

  19. Get Involved

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    Well said Jack (09:26), also has the same with Bashir and Hartley in India at the beginning of that tour and they ended up having relatively successful tours, hardly surprising bowlers who have never played in Asia are learning on the job on such a flat deck.

    Will, Copenhagen

  20. Pak 184-1

    Abdullah 72, Masood 104

    Something of a wayward start to the over from Shoaib Bashir and he is worked for a couple of threes - the second of which is checked a number of times to make sure it wasn't one short before the third umpire is satisfied.

    The young off-spinner finishes the over well, though, and it's time for drinks.

    England will have a couple of minutes to try and come up with a plan to break this stand.