What a performance it has been from Pakistan today! Winning the toss and opting to bat first turned out to be a great decision for the hosts for whom captain Shan Masood and Abdullah Shafique stood tall, hitting the fifth Test centuries of their respective careers. The two put on an emphatic display with the bat in hand and were also aided by the lack of assistance that the England bowlers received from the pitch at the Multan Cricket Stadium. Despite the pitch being easy to bat on, the two did incredibly well to score a good rate. However, England did strike back in the last session, dismissing both the centurions and also took the wicket of Babar Azam towards the close of play on Day 1. But with 324/4 on the board, Pakistan would be happy and will aim at adding to this tally on Day 2. For England, Gus Atkinson was the best bowler with two wickets while Jack Leach and Chris Woakes took one each.Â
PAK 328/4 at Stumps | Pakistan vs England Highlights of 1st Test 2024 Day 1: England Bowlers Made to Toil As Shan Masood-Abdullah Shafique's Partnership Grabs Spotlight
Pakistan and England will play a three-match Test series starting from October 7. Pakistan will host the series and will look to take advantage of the home conditions. Check out the Pakistan vs England live scores and commentary below.
OUT! A big wicket for England towards the end of Day 1 with Chris Woakes trapping Babar Azam lbw! The right-hander, who looked good so far, was struck right in front and a DRS could not save him either. Pakistan have been hit back after that Shan Masood-Abdullah Shafique partnership. England would be delighted with this wicket.  Babar Azam lbw b Chris Woakes 30(71)Â
Babar Azam and Saud Shakeel have joined forces at the crease and will look to see out the day for Pakistan after Abdullah Shafique and Shan Masood both departed after scoring centuries. Pakistan lost both their centurions but are still in a position of control.Â
OUT! Jack Leach has struck and he has provided England with the big wicket of Shan Masood! The Pakistan captain chipped the ball straight back to Leach who made no mistake in taking a simple catch. England have managed to send back both set batters to the pavilion and with Babar Azam and Saud Shakeel, both of whom are relatively new at the crease, England will aim at producing a fightback. Shan Masood c and b Jack Leach 151(177)
OUT! Finally a wicket has come Pakistan's way it is Gus Atkinson who has struck again! Abdullah Shafique seemed to lose a bit of concentration and he went after the ball outside the off-stump and hit it straight to Ollie Pope. England have finally broken this partnership which has yielded 253 runs. Abdullah Shafique c Ollie Pope b Gus Atkinson 102(184)Â
150 for Shan Masood! What a performance it has been from the Pakistan captain, who has batted so well. He has led from the front with the bat and kept his side in complete control. Shan Masood has shown great technique and skill so far and it has been a stunning day for his side on the field.Â
150 for Shan Masood! What a performance it has been from the Pakistan captain, who has batted so well. He has led from the front with the bat and kept his side in complete control. Shan Masood has shown great technique and skill so far and it has been a stunning day for his side on the field.Â
HUNDRED for Abdullah Shafique! A six to get to the three-figure mark and Abdullah Shafique and Pakistan will be mighty pleased with this effort. What a knock it has been! He and Shan Masood have scored runs at will and both of them look to make it big.Â
That would be tea on Day 1! Pakistan have dictated proceedings with a fine display of batting. Shan Masood completed his fifth Test century while Abdullah Shafique is nearing the three-figure mark as well. England bowlers, on the other hand, are under the pump with the pitch not offering any help at all. Gus Atkinson has taken the sole wicket so far after he dismissed Saim Ayub.Â
That would be tea on Day 1! Pakistan have dictated proceedings with a fine display of batting. Shan Masood completed his fifth Test century while Abdullah Shafique is nearing the three-figure mark as well. England bowlers, on the other hand, are under the pump with the pitch not offering any help at all. Gus Atkinson has taken the sole wicket so far after he dismissed Saim Ayub.Â
Pakistan have not seemed to put a foot wrong in this session with captain Shan Masood hitting his fifth Test century. Abdullah Shafique has also batted very well at the other end and their partnership has now surpassed the 200-run mark. England bowlers have looked clueless on a pitch tailor-made for batting.Â
HUNDRED for Shan Masood! What a knock it has been from the Pakistan captain, who has batted with composure as well as authority in this innings and has deservedly scored his fifth Test century. This is his first Test 100 as Pakistan captain and it will give him a lot of confidence going ahead into this series.Â
England are started to be piled with more pressure with the pitch offering nothing for the bowlers here. Pakistan are well on top here with the partnership between Abdullah Shafique and Shan Masood ticking along nicely.Â
Pakistan seem to be in complete control of proceedings here with Shan Masood and Abdullah Shafique hitting half-centuries. Both the players have batted with composure and skill. England need to break this stand or else they can fall behind in this contest.Â
FIFTY! Abdullah Shafique also completes his half-century putting up a strong performance alongside Shan Masood. England used four bowlers but none managed to trouble Shafique and Masood as the pair scored 114 runs in just 21.2 overs.
FIFTY! Captain Shan Masood is leading from the front with a brilliant half-century. After the loss of an early wicket, the home side maintained the run rate keeping wickets intact. Shan Masood and Abdullah Shafique form a 91-run partnership as Pakistan is close to a 100-run mark before lunch. Captain Sahn Masood completed his half-century in just 43 deliveries.Â
50 up for Pakistan. Abdullah Shafique and captain Shan Masood are playing steady after losing an early wicket, yet the pair is stroking a lose deliveries keeping a healthy run rate early on.Â
Out! Gus Atkinson strikes early for the visitors as the pacer takes the wicket in his second over. Not all that much in the delivery, but Ayub had walked across his stumps and only managed a thin tickle through to Smith as he attempted to work it fine. Saim Ayub c Jamie Smith b Gus Atkinson 4 (10)
After winning the toss, the Pakistan captain opts to bat first. Here are playing XI confirmed for the match.
Playing XI For Both teams declared
Pakistan National Cricket team: Saim Ayub, Abdullah Shafique, Shan Masood (capt), Babar Azam, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Salman Ali Agha, Aamer Jamal, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Abrar Ahmad
England National Cricket Team: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope (capt), Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jamie Smith (wk), Chris Woakes, Gus Atkinson, Brydon Carse, Jack Leach, Shoaib Bashir
With a new Test series underway, the Pakistan National Cricket Team and the England National Cricket Team will face off in the first match of a three-match Test series at Multan Cricket Stadium starting on October 7, 2024. -You can check the Pakistan National Cricket Team vs England National Cricket Team Match Scorecard here. After a disappointing loss against the Bangladesh Cricket team, Pakistanâs skipper Shan Masood is yet to register his first Test win as captain. Playing at home once again, this series presents a pivotal moment for him to shut the doubters. Masood's performance, both as a captain and batter will be under scrutiny while there are many other big players like Babar Azam, Shahin Shah Afridi, and Mohammed Rizwan who need to step up for the side on the occasion supporting their captain. On Which Channel Pakistan vs England 2024 Test Series Will Be Telecast Live in India? How To Watch PAK vs ENG Live Streaming Online?
As for the England National Cricket Team, they will miss Ben Stokes for the first Test due to injury. He is expected to return in the series' second match. But the side has many high-performing stars including Joe Root, Ollie Pope, and Harry Brook who have proved their potential in tough conditions too. After the last 3-0 win against the Pakistan side in 2022, the visitors will look for the similar outcome this term also. Â PAK vs ENG 1st Test 2024: Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, Aamer Jamal Set To Return to Pakistanâs Playing XI for Multan Test Against England.
Squads:
Pakistan National Cricket Team: Shan Masood (captain), Saud Shakeel (vice-captain), Aamir Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Huraira, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Naseem Shah, Noman Ali, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Sarfaraz Ahmed (wicketkeeper), Shaheen Shah Afridi.
England National Cricket Team: Rehan Ahmed, Gus Atkinson, Shoaib Bashir, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Jordan Cox (wicketkeeper), Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Josh Hull, Jack Leach, Ollie Pope (captain), Matthew Potts, Joe Root, Jamie Smith (wicketkeeper), Olly Stone, Chris Woakes
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 07, 2024 10:59 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).