Daily Times

RAWALPINDI: Four of England’s top five batsmen hammered scintillating centuries in a record-breaking batting performance as the visitors reached 506 for the loss four wickets on the opening day of their first Test against Pakistan at Rawalpindi Stadium here on Thursday. It is the first time in Test cricket that 500 runs have been scored on the first day, with England in dazzling form on their first Test tour of Pakistan since 2005. England broke a 112-year-old record for the most runs on the first day of a Test – beating Australia’s 494-6 against South Africa at Sydney. On a flat track and against a Pakistan attack that included three debutants, England’s batting looked like a continuation of their victorious campaign at the T20 World Cup in Australia. Openers Zak Crawley (122) and Ben Duckett (107) combined in a 233-run stand to give England a blazing start. Number three batsman Ollie Pope made 108 while Harry Brook, who was unbeaten on 101 off 81 balls, illustrated their approach best when he smashed six fours in an over from Saud Shakeel. Captain Ben Stokes was batting on 34 when bad light stopped play, doubtless to the relief of the Pakistan camp.

Following Stokes’ decision to bat after winning the toss, Crawley gave an early indication of their intent, smashing three boundaries in the first over from Naseem Shah. Crawley, on 99, got an lbw decision against him overturned and went on to smash an 86-ball century, the fastest by an English Test opener. Boundaries flowed from the other end too as Duckett, playing his first Test in six years, brought up his maiden international century. The eventful second session was more competitive though, with Zahid Mahmood and Haris Rauf picking up three wickets between them.

Leg spinner Zahid trapped Duckett lbw after the opener’s attempt to play a reverse sweep. Crawley departed in the next over, bowled through the gate by Haris, after a sparkling knock which contained 21 fours. Joe Root could not make the most of the docile pitch and fluffed a sweep shot against Zahid to depart for 23. Pope fell after completing his third Test hundred but there was no respite for Pakistan as Brook launched an extraordinary assault on Saud en route to an 80-ball hundred. England were forced to make a change to their original playing XI after several of their players were laid low by a virus that also threatened to delay the start of the match. Will Jacks was brought in to replace stumper Ben Foakes, with Pope tasked with wicketkeeping duties. England will also play Tests in Multan and Karachi. Debutant leg-spinner Zahid was the most successful Pakistan bowler with 2-160 on a pitch similar to the one used against Australia earlier this year. That pitch was declared “below average” by the match referee after it yielded 1,187 runs for the loss of just 14 wickets over five days. Pakistan debutants were Saud Shakeel, Haris, Mohammad Ali and Zahid.