Misbah steers Pakistan in steady start against hosts
London, July 14: Pakistan captain Misbah- ul Haq guided his team to 158/ 4 at tea on the opening day of the first Test against England at Lord’s on Thursday.
Misbah, who got a reprieve on 16 when Joe Root grassed a low catch, will resume on 48 after winning the toss and batting first on a slow wicket.
England also stuttered in the field early in the first session as James Vince couldn’t hold onto a sharp chance from Mohammad Hafeez ( 40).
Fast bowler Jake Ball had his first Test wicket when he had Azhar Ali lbw in the first over after lunch, and Younis Khan ( 33) played a reckless drive off Stuart Broad after adding 53 runs with Misbah.
The Test marks the return of fast bowler Mohammad Amir after serving a five- year ban for spot- fixing.
Amir bowled deliberate no- balls at Lord’s in 2010 and was banned along with teammates Salman Butt and Mohammad Asif.
Pakistan included three left- arm fast bowlers — Amir, Rahat Ali and Wahab Riaz — with legspinner Yasir Shah as the sole slow bowler.
Nottinghamshire fast bowler Jake Ball was awarded his test debut as the 25- year- old Englishman replaced injured James Anderson.
SCOREBOARD ( At tea) Pakistan ( 1st innings): M. Hafeez c Bairstow b Woakes 40, S. Masood c Bairstow b Woakes 7, A. Ali lbw b Ball 7, Younis Khan c Ali b Broad 33, Misbah- ul- Haq ( batting ) 48, A. Shafiq ( batting) 12. Extras ( lb9, w2) 11. Total ( for 4 wkts, in 52 overs) 158. FoW: 1- 38, 2- 51, 3- 77, 4- 134. Bowling: Broad 14- 7- 24- 1, Ball 12- 5- 26- 1, Woakes 12- 333- 2, Finn 12- 2- 52- 0, Ali 2- 014- 0.