Shan Masood's record century helps Pakistan rattle England bowlers in Multan Test

Home side reach 328-4 after captain and opener Shafique hit tons

Pakistan's Abdullah Shafique celebrates with captain Shan Masood, right, after scoring a century on the first day of the first Test against England in Multan on Monday, October 7, 2024. AFP

Pakistan captain Shan Masood hit a quickfire century in the Multan Test. Reuters

Abdullah Shafique, right, and Shan Masood powered Pakistan to 328-4 on the opening day of the first Test against England. AP

Abdullah Shafique hits a boundary at the Multan Cricket Stadium. AFP

England pacer Gus Atkinson celebrates taking the wicket of Pakistan opener Saim Ayub. Getty Images

Gus Atkinson celebrates with team mates after taking the wicket of Abdullah Shafique. EPA

Captain Shan Masood smashed a quickfire century as Pakistan took control of the opening day of the first Test against England in Multan on Monday.

On a flat deck and in scorching heat, Pakistan's batsmen made England bowlers toil as they reached 328-4 by stumps, with Masood (151) and opening batsman Abdullah Shafique (102) scoring a bulk of the runs.

Captain Masood's innings was particularly inspiring as he scored his runs off just 177 balls and with the help of 13 fours and two sixes.

It was Masood's first hundred for four years, while Shafique also returned to form with a century as the pair put on a solid 253-run stand for the second wicket after Pakistan won the toss and batted.

Masood took a single off seamer Chris Woakes to race to a 102-ball hundred. Shafique reached his ton in style, hitting spinner Jack Leach for a six.

Masood's century was the second fastest by a Pakistan captain in Tests after Misbah-ul-Haq's 56-ball ton against Australia in 2014.

England briefly fought back when they removed both Masood and Shafique in the space of two runs in the third session.

The visitors then took the second new ball at 308-3 and dismissed Babar Azam, trapped leg-before by fast bowler Woakes for 30. Saud Shakeel was unbeaten on 35 at the close of play, with nightwatchman Naseem Shah yet to score.

England's attack toiled hard in the Multan heat, with fast bowler Gus Atkinson the most successful with 2-70. Woakes and spinner Leach both took a wicket each.

Masood had been under pressure to make runs, with his last hundred coming against the same opponents at Manchester in 2020 – 14 Tests and 27 innings ago.

“The way Shan and I made the partnership, it was crucial for us," Shafique said after the day's play. "Red-ball cricket is not an easy game. The main thing I was focusing on was the process. If I do good things in the process then I’m able to do well in the match.”

England assistant coach Jeetan Patel was satisfied with the hard work put in by the bowlers.

"The toil the bowlers put in today was great," said the former New Zealand spinner. "They tried different things to take wickets, with different fields.

"We are pretty happy with what we have ended up with. We would have liked them six down or all out but it's a subcontinental pitch."

Both teams have gone in with a different combination in the bowling attack. England picked two frontline spinners in Leach and Shoaib Bashir, while the home team have selected only one recognised spinner in Abrar Ahmed, with a few part-time slow bowlers in the line-up.