Pakistan vs England: Abdullah Shafique, Imam-ul-Haq, Zak Crawley, Ben Ducket create Unique Batting record

Shafique-Imam give Pakistan solid start

Abdullah Shafique – playing his 8th Test – made most of the ‘Pindi Pitch’ and notched up his third century in the red ball format. Shafique was dismissed by spinner Will Jacks for 114 as Ollie Pope took a catch. The right-handed batter faced 203 balls in his century knock and smashed 13 fours and three sixes.

Imam-ul-Haq – who slammed his third century in Tests – didn’t last long at the crease after losing his opening partner. The left-handed batter scored 121 off 207 deliveries before he succumbed to Jack Leach while attempting a big shot over long-on, only to be caught by Ollie Robinson.

Pakistan lost both their openers for 245 but the duo had already played their part well and had provided a huge foundation for the middle order to feast upon.

Crawley-Ducket frustrated Pakistan

Earlier on the opening day of the Test match, English openers Zak Crawley (122 off 111 balls) and Ben Ducket (107 off 110 deliveries) had a union of 233 runs for the first wicket after skipper Ben Stokes elected to bat first.

Left-handed Crawley, who scored 122 off 111 balls with 21 boundaries, notched up his century off just 86 balls making it the fastest Test century for an England opener.

Duckett – who made a comeback in the Test side after six years – scored 107 off 110 balls and hit 15 fours to raise his maiden Test century.

England & Pakistan Openers Combine to Create Big Record

• The Pakistani opening duo with their double-hundred partnership for the first wicket created quite a few unique records after the English opening duo of Ben Ducket and Zak Crawley achieved a similar feat.
• This match is the only second instance in the long history of Test cricket when all four openers slammed a century in a match.
• Also, it was the first occasion when the openers notched up centuries in the first innings of a Test match. Never before in the history of the ‘Gentleman’s Game’, a feat like this has been achieved.
• It is also this is the first Test match ever to have two double-century opening stands (England openers – 233 & Pakistan openers – 225).