Malik passes 150 for first time, Pakistan consolidate position

ABU DHABI (Reuters) – Shoaib Malik passed 150 for the first time in test cricket as Pakistan marched on without scare to reach 389 for four at lunch on the second day of the first test against England in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday.

Malik, playing his first test in five years, surpassed his previous best of 148 not out by guiding Mark Wood through gully.

He reached the interval unbeaten on 168, having mixed watchful defence against the seamers early on with aggression towards England’s spin duo of Moeen Ali and Adil Rashid – the latter being slapped for four and then six in one over mid-way through the morning.

With Asad Shafiq also well set and displaying good footwork against the spinners to move to 66 not out, the hosts will be confident of building a formidable total on a pitch which has offered no assistance to the bowlers.

It was Shafiq’s 12th test fifty, while the partnership between him and Malik – worth 138 – is now the joint-highest fifth-wicket partnership in tests in Abu Dhabi.

Chris Jordan has been called up by England to replace Steven Finn, who injured his foot on the eve of the first test and has now been ruled out of the tour.

(Reporting by David French; Editing by Amlan Chakraborty)