Pakistan vs England: 2nd Test, Day One - Vintage Misbah gives Pakistan upper hand

The Pakistan captain on the way to a well-made Test ton

Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq scored an unbeaten 102 to lead his side to a commanding position at the end of the first day of the second Test in Dubai. The Pakistan total was helped by half-centuries from Shan Masood and Younis Khan.

Earlier in the day, Pakistan had won the toss and elected to bat on what looked like a perfect track for batting. However, the pitch offered a bit more for the bowlers than what the pitch at Abu Dhabi did.

The Pakistani openers, Masood and Mohammad Hafeez scored runs at ease until Hafeez fell for Moeen Ali's off-spin, after the batsmen got a fifty-run partnership. Shoaib Malik was not able to carry on his form from the first Test as he fell cheaply for 2 runs.

Masood lost his wicket in the post-lunch session after a well-made 54. He was much more assured than he was in the first Test and chose his shots well to bring up his second Test fifty. James Anderson picked up Masood's wicket for the third time this series, perhaps giving signs that he has found a new bunny in Masood.

Pakistan's batting backbone – Younis Khan and Misbah-ul-Haq – stabilised the innings by adding 93 runs for the fourth wicket as they so consistently have done over the years. Younis, however, lost his wicket soon after tea when he nicked promising English bowler Mark Wood to Jos Buttler.

The captain, along with middle-order batsman Asad Shafiq, saw the rest of the day's overs out as they put on 104 runs for the fifth wicket. Shafiq – who had scored a century in the previous game – scored a strong unbeaten 46, giving good support to his captain.

Misbah started his innnings in a scrappy manner, surviving a few close shaves. But, he was able to put that behind him and stay focused to carry forwad and score his ninth Test century.

He scored 15 runs, which included two sixes, off the last over to bring up his century. His resilient innings included five sixes and eight fours. The captain, once again, led his side by example.

Interesting Numbers from Day One:

9 - Younis Khan and Misbah-ul-Haq have been involved in a 50+ run stand for the ninth time in the last 11 Test innings.

7 - Misbah-ul-Haq has now equalised former Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq to score most hundreds as a captain for Pakistan. Both have seven hundreds.

Brief Scores:

Pakistan 282/4 (Misbah 102*, Younis 56; Wood 1/26)