London-Alex Hales was controversially caught early as Pakistan took three early England wickets in the Fourth Test – before Moeen Ali scored a magnificent century to claw the innings back.
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England were bowled out for 328 runs in 76.4 overs.
England finished 328 all out before Pakistan closed 3-1 at the end of an intriguing day’s play, and Moeen says his early discomfort did not unsettle him.
It’s impossible to look past Ali and if England hold on to win the series which they now lead 2-1 they may well have him to thank.
Riaz, who took five wickets on his Test debut during Pakistan’s four-wicket win at The Oval in 2010, had Joe Root out for 26 as he edged a wide but lifting delivery outside off stump to wicket-keeper Sarfraz Ahmed.
Moeen Ali (left) celebrating his century on day one of the fourth Test. He went on to add a quick 79 in just 86 balls for the seventh wicket with Chris Woakes, who contributed 45 off 57, to further drag England to safety.
Pakistan – who dropped Moeen in the slips on nine – fought back again in the final session, Sohail Khan taking out the tail to finish with 5-68 with Moeen the last man to fall for an excellent 108.
Moeen therefore had to eke out another 16 runs for his century with numbers 10 and 11 – and when Yasir tempted him, he took up the challenge brilliantly.
‘It’s the second time here I’ve been hit first ball, ‘ he said. And his badging by the Pakistani reminded the bearded allrounder of a similar incident in last year’s Ashes series.
“I was really embarrassed after my shot (at Lord’s), and that’s when I decided I needed to bat properly again now”, he said. “I’ve stayed calm, and I wasn’t fazed by it all”.
Ali’s third career Test hundred in 30 matches, and second of the season following his 155 not out against Sri Lanka at Chester-le-Street in May, took 140 balls, with 12 fours and two sixes.
He was last man out when he was caught in the deep by Yasir hooking at Sohail, who kissed the pitch in celebration of his fifth wicket. From a distance, the pitch has a green tinge to it, but with Misbah-ul-Haq losing the toss, Cook made a decision to bat first in any case and he and Hales had added 23 easily enough when the latter clipped Mohammad Amir firmly off his legs, a skimmer that Yasir Shah plunged to scoop up.
Alex Hales, on six, was caught by Shah at mid-wicket off Mohammad Amir while Cook, on 35, bottom-edged a short ball from Sohail Khan on to his stumps.
879 Runs by Jonny Bairstow batting at No. 6 or lower in Tests this year – already the fourth-highest by any batsman in a calendar year when batting at No. 6 or lower.
Broad was out lbw to Sohail two balls later for a duck, England losing their eighth wicket with 282 runs on the board.
Pakistan, whose close catching has proved fallible this series, then saw Azhar twice drop Moeen, on 9 and 15.
He should have held the first chance in the slips, off Mohammad Amir.
Azhar – now at short leg – was the unable to hold a far harder catch following Ali’s powerful whip off leg-spinner Yasir Shah.
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Thursday’s second session also saw Amir bowl his first no-ball in global cricket since his return earlier this year – although it was nothing like the deliberate overstep against England in the Lord’s Test of 2010 that led to his five-year ban and jail sentence for spot-fixing.
