Multan: Pakistan vs England: Pakistan captain Shan Masood and opener Abdullah Shafique both scored centuries.

That helped Pakistan post an impressive 328-4 on the opening Test Pakistan vs England in Multan on Monday.

Masood’s brilliant 151 marked his first hundred in four years, while Shafique returned to form with a well-crafted 102.

The pair stitched together a solid 253-run partnership for the second wicket after Pakistan chose to bat first.

England, led by stand-in skipper Ollie Pope in the absence of the injured Ben Stokes, fought back in the third session by dismissing both Masood and Shafique within a span of just two runs.

England then took the second new ball at 308-3 and managed to remove Babar Azam, who was trapped leg-before at 30.

Saud Shakeel remained unbeaten on 35 at the end of the day, with nightwatchman Naseem Shah yet to get off the mark.

England’s bowlers had to toil hard under the Multan heat, with fast bowler Gus Atkinson emerging as the most successful with figures of 2-70.

Woakes and spinner Jack Leach claimed a wicket each.

Masood, under pressure to deliver with the bat, registered his first century since his last ton against the same opponent in Manchester back in 2020.

He completed his fifth Test hundred off just 102 balls, featuring two sixes and 13 boundaries in a dominant batting display.

Shafique looked equally comfortable, handling England’s pace and spin attack effectively on a batting-friendly pitch.

Pakistan vs England: England Comeback

England managed to strike early in the fourth over when Atkinson forced opener Saim Ayub to edge down the leg side to wicketkeeper Jamie Smith, leaving Pakistan at 8-1.

The visitors almost took a second wicket when debutant Brydon Carse trapped Masood on 16, only for a review to show that the ball had pitched outside leg stump.

Masood then took on off-spinner Shoaib Bashir, hitting him for four boundaries, and followed it up with two more off Atkinson to reach his 11th Test fifty.

Shafique survived a run-out chance on 34 when Pope missed the stumps with a diving throw.

He went on to smash two fours and a six off Bashir to reach his sixth Test half-century.

Both teams opted for a combination of three fast bowlers and two spinners, hoping the pitch would initially favor seamers before aiding spin later in the match.