Internet Desk: Pakistani openers Azhar Ali and Sami Aslam shared an opening stand of 215 runs to guide Pakistan to a dominating position after Day 1 of the Day-Night test match against West Indies. Azhar Ali became the first batsman to record a century in a day-night Test off a pink ball as he helped Pakistan post 279/1 at stumps at the Dubai Sports City stadium. Ali remained not out on 146 runs.
Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq did not hesitate to bat first after winning the toss on a flat Dubai stadium pitch. Asad Shafiq was the other not out batsman with 33.
This was only the second test match played under the lights in the 140 year history of test cricket. The first Day-Night test match was played between Australia and New Zealand in November last year.
Australia won the low-scoring affair on the third day by a narrow three-wicket margin, with Australian wicket-keeper Peter Nevill’s 66 the top individual score.
Ali put his name in the records book with a 366-minute stay at the crease, hitting 14 boundaries, but unlike Adelaide where the attendance was 123,000 over three days, only 500-odd people passed through the gates in Dubai.
Despite the empty stands Ali and Sami Aslam, who fell for 90, started brightly with an imperious 215-run stand for the opening wicket.
Ali drove off-spinner Roston Chase to mid-off for his ninth boundary to complete his 11th Test century It was his second ton in three matches.
The other opener Sami Aslam, missed out on a hundred by 10 runs when he swept Chase onto his stumps. He hit nine fours in his 290-minute stay at the crease. It was a second time unlucky for Aslam who was run out for 82 in the Birmingham Test against England two months ago.
West Indies took the second new ball as soon as it was due after 80 overs with Pakistan on 249-1 but failed to get another wicket.
Chase was the lone wicket-taker with 1-63 in 21 overs.
It couldn’t have been a better start for Pakistan in a match marking their 400th Test, as they won a crucial toss and made excellent early progress. Pakistan handed Test caps to middle-order batsman Babar Azam .
The remaining two Tests will be played in Abu Dhabi (October 21-25) and Sharjah (October 30-November 3).