Alastair Cook’s 263 guides England to 569/8 on Day 4 of 1st Test vs Pakistan

The first Test between Pakistan and England at Abu Dhabi is advancing towards a draw as the latter went to stumps on Day 4 at 569 for the loss of eight wickets and lead by a healthy margin of 46 runs. Cook played a splendid innings of 263 and powered England to a commanding position. England started the day at 290 for 3 with Cook and Joe Root at the crease. Initially, Pakistani bowlers were getting some movement and were charged up but didn’t convert them into opportunities. Root and Cook batted with immense confidence and temperament as they didn’t give anything away till lunch. England went to lunch at 400 for 3 and were trailing by 123 runs with seven wickets in hand. Although there were some opportunities created but Pakistani fielders failed to capitalise on it further adding more pressure on their bowlers.SCORECARD: Pakistan vs England 2015, 1st Test Day 4 at Abu Dhabi

The duo accounted for a 141 runs stand between them before Root’s innings came to an end when he tried to cut a widish out swinging delivery that took a healthy edge of his willow and the rest was done by Sarfraz Ahmed behind the stumps. Meanwhile, Cook also registered his third double ton in Test cricket and first in UAE.Later, Wahab Riaz came up with another beautiful delivery which got rid of Janny Bairstow just before tea. England were although in a good position despite losing couple wickets in quick succession. At tea, England were 468 for 5 with Cook and Ben Stokes at crease. Stokes looked confident and played some elegant strokes as soon as he came on to bat. UPDATES: Pakistan vs England  for Day 4, 1st Test at Abu Dhabi

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Post-lunch, Stokes took on the Pakistani bowlers and fired a half-century before being dismissed by Shoaib Malik. Cook hung on to his post and slammed his maiden 250 in UAE. England equalled Pakistan’s total and soon after that wickets fell like nine pins. At first Stokes, then Cook had to make his way back to the pavilion after playing a marvelous innings of 263 and later Jos Butler too fell prey to Zulfiqar Babar’s persistence. Photo Gallery

The outcome of the Test is almost clear until and unless something miraculous happen on the ultimate day of the first Test. Both the teams made utmost use of the batting surface and scored runs in plenty. Bowlers had a tough time as there wasn’t any help in the surface. It will be interesting to see how the pitch fares on the final day.

Brief scores:

England 569 for 8 (Alastair Cook 263, Root 85; Wahab Riaz 3 for 116) lead  Pakistan 523 for 8 decl (Shoaib Malik 245, Asad Shafiq 107; Ben Stokes 4 for 57) by 46 runs.

Full Scorecard

by 46 runs