Pakistan captain becomes oldest player to score century in Test cricket format in 82 years.
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Pakistani skipper Misbah-ul-Haq on Thursday became first Pakistani batsman to register his name on the Lord’s honours boards in last ten years by scoring 110 runs off 179 balls (innings underway). However, the 42-year-old has never held any grudges and has nearly always grabbed his chance with both hands since taking over the command of the national team in the aftermath of the 2010 spot-fixing scandal.
But together with Asad Shafiq (73), Misbah put on 148 for the fifth wicket.
But with Chris Woakes taking wickets at both the start and end of the day’s play for a return of 4 for 45, England had reason to be happy with how things had gone as well. Misbah made 32 runs off 23 balls against Moeen hitting seven fours. Remarkably, this was also Haq’s first Test anywhere in England.
Misbah celebrated his landmark by dropping to the Lord’s turf and doing press-ups. But instead he performed a series of press-ups in what appeared to be a joke aimed at critics who questioned whether he is now too old for global cricket. Nobody knows what Misbah’s secret is, but the captain thinks his longevity must be credited partly to the boot camps with the army.
“That was my promise to the army guys: we did a camp in Abbottabad just before we did a skill camp in Lahore”, the veteran told reporters after play. “Those in my celebration can’t count because my arm was bent!” Had we got that, it would have been worth it.
He was dropped on 16 by Joe Root, who grassed a tough slip chance off fast bowler Steven Finn. Broad broke the partnership that was starting to take the game away from the hosts as Younis gifted Moeen Ali a regulation catch at short mid-wicket with a tame flick.
While several English cricketers have opposed the comeback of Pakistani speedster Mohammad Amir, Indian batting legend Sachin Tendulkar has thrown his weight behind the youngster, saying there should be no problem with his comeback since he has served his sentence.
Misbah was playing his first Test in England and rode to his side’s rescue, coming to the crease with Pakistan on 3-77.
Nottinghamshire quick Jake Ball, making his Test debut after England left out all-time leading wicket-taker James Anderson because of concerns he had not yet recovered from a shoulder injury, also got in on the act. He took 1 for 51 in 19 overs after a yorker that knocked Azhar Ali off his feet saw him win an lbw decision for his first Test wicket.
“(The review, second ball) looked pretty close where I was.
Younis Khan and Azhar Ali set about rebuilding before Ball claimed his maiden Test wicket in a superb six-over burst after lunch. But Shafiq offered excellent support with a 130-ball innings featuring 12 fours.
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At the other end Shafiq cut and drove with authority, easing to his fifty off 89 balls and beyond, until he was caught behind with 10 minutes of play remaining as he attempted to leave a Woakes outswinger.
