Multan: Pakistani batters enjoyed a field day on Monday, October 7 with a sensational batting performance against England on Day 1 of the opening Test in Multan. Opting to bat first, the hosts made the most of the useful conditions at the Multan Cricket Stadium as skipper Shan Masood and opening batter Abdullah Shafique punished the English bowlers in tough conditions.
After losing Saim Ayub early, Masood and Shafique steadied the ship and then took control of the situation with a magnificent partnership. The duo stitched a 253-run stand to etch their name in the history books. Masood and Shafique’s 253-run partnership is the second-highest in Multan after the 336-run stand between Virender Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar in 2004.
Highest partnerships at Multan in Tests
336 – Sehwag & Tendulkar vs PAK, 2004
253 – Shafique & Masood vs ENG, 2024
200 – Lara & DJ Bravo vs PAK, 2006
Masood led from the front with his first hundred as Pakistan’s skipper, playing a sensational knock of 151 off 177 balls.
It was Masood’s first century in four years since the 156-run knock against the same opponent in Manchester in 2020. Masood also became the first centurion Pakistani skipper since Babar Azam, who scored 161 runs against New Zealand in Karachi in December 2022.
While Masood completed his century in the second session, Shafique reached the milestone in the final session. The stylish batter crossed the three-figure mark in style, smashing Jack Leach for a maximum over mid-on. It was a good return to form for Shafique after three poor outings in a row.
Following the sensational century, the young batter joined an elite list of Pakistani players comprising legends like Javed Miandad, Saleem Malik, Hanif Mohammad, and Younis Khan with the most Test centuries before turning 25.
Most Test centuries for a Pakistani batter before turning 25
7 – Javed Miandad
6 – Saleem Malik
5 – Hanif Mohammad
5 – Younis Khan
5 – Abdullah Shafique
Both batters were dismissed in the final session with Gus Atkinson accounting for the dismissal of Shafique (102) and Jack Leach getting rid of Masood for 151.
England vs Pakistan: Following the sensational century, Abdullah Shafique joined an elite list of Pakistani players comprising legends like Javed Miandad, Saleem Malik, Hanif Mohammad, and Younis Khan. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
