Live Cricket Score of Pakistan vs England, 1st Test, Day 2 at Abu Dhabi

Pakistan will be happy having ended the first day of the series at 286/4. Shoaib Malik continued his superb return to international cricket with a century on his Test return. On a hot and sultry day in Abu Dhabi, England were always up against it once they'd lost the toss. Their bowlers huffed and puffed and truth be told, should have been better-supported by the fielders. The pacers in particular undone by a couple of dropped chances and wickets off no-balls.

Adil Rashid and Moeen Ali were rendered ineffective and will need to come up with a better performance if they are to restrict Pakistan in the first innings. Malik is still around and has Asad Shafiq, Sarfraz Ahmed and Co. to follow. A good opening session can certainly bring them back into this.

Here we go!

Asad Shafiq and Shoaib Malik continued to pile on the agony for England in the second session. The duo reached major landmarks even as England's bowlers continued to struggle on a pitch that offered nothing whatsoever for them.

Malik, playing his first Test in over five years, completed a memorable double-ton when he steered Jimmy Anderson through the vacant region behind gully. Calm as ever even after getting to such a significant milestone. That's been the hallmark of this innings. Yes, the pitch has hid no demons still double centuries don't come along every other day. He's hardly put a foot wrong here. Joe Root walks up to Malik and offers his wishes. Nice touch Rooty.

In the next over, Asad Shafiq completed his 8th Test century. Cook and Stokes clap in appreciation. Shafiq holds his bat and helmet aloft, big smile crossing his face. Super effort.

With the second new ball at his disposal, Alastair Cook started the second day's play with his lead seamers James Anderson and Stuart Broad. The new ball notwithstanding, the second day pitch offered absolutely no assistance to the bowlers. Asad Shafiq and Shoaib Malik realized that as well and took no chances whatsoever. They are aware, if they can negate Anderson and Broad, then there's truck loads of runs for the taking.

Sure enough, half an hour of attritional cricket later, Cook was forced to bring on Adil Rashid and Mark Wood. Going to be a long day for the fielding side.

England bowling too English for me...81mph consistent line and length like back home .. These pitches require pace and mix up of really full or short ... Just watch when Pakistan bowl.... #PAKvENG
England bowling too English for me...81mph consistent line and length like back home .. These pitches require pace and mix up of really full or short ... Just watch when Pakistan bowl.... #PAKvENG

This was coming. Malik and Shafiq have played this very smartly. After seeing off the opening burst from Broad and Anderson, Shoaib Malik started milking England's change bowlers Mark Wood and Adil Rashid. Malik stepped out to the leg-spinner and hit over his head for a boundary. In an attempt to compensate, Rashid offered a rank full-toss, which was duly dispatched for a six. Rashid has now conceded 99 runs in his 20 overs and is yet to pick up a wicket. Welcome to Test cricket!

Credit to Mark Wood for summoning every ounce of energy in this sapping heat to bowl a surprise short-ball. Malik, though, was batting on 146 and happily watched it go to the keeper. Must be so deflating for the bowler. The next ball, another back of a length delivery, is squeezed through gully for four to give Malik his maiden 150 in Test cricket. What a comeback.

Sania Mirza is racking up doubles titles with swiss-miss Martina Hingis and her husband Malik is piling on the runs. What a year this has been for the couple!

The going continued to get tough for England as Asad Shafiq helped himself to a half-century to pile on the misery for England. Cook brought on both Moeen and Rashid to bowl in tandem and got both his spinners to attempt an around-the-wicket strategy by packing the field on the leg-side for the right-handers. With the pitch no particular rough, the two right-handers were happy to step out and play the inside-out shots to the spinners. Can England can somehow bag a breakthrough in the first session.

Looks highly unlikely.

Shoaib Malik and Asad Shafiq have added 103 runs in 29 overs without losing a wicket. That sums up the morning session for England. The two overnight batsmen started circumspectly against Broad and Anderson before opening up when the spinners came on. England attempted a few things - the spinners bowled round the wicket with fielders in the deep on the leg side, Wood and Stokes bowled full with catchers at silly mid-on and short mid-wicket - but to no avail.

They'll switch to run-saving mode in the second session. There's a double-century for Malik and a ton for Asad Shafiq for the taking post-lunch. Do join us for that.

Breaking: Meanwhile, the news from the England camp is that: