Malik, Shafiq plunder England in first Test

Shoaib Malik completed his maiden double hundred and Asad Shafiq notched his ninth century as Pakistan continued to pile on the runs in the first Test against England in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday.

At the break, Malik (231) and Shafiq (107) were at the crease as they increased their fifth wicket stand to 248 -- a new record in Pakistan-England matches -- on the second day at Sheikh Zayed Stadium.

Pakistan have added 213 runs without losing a wicket in the two sessions.

Malik steered paceman James Anderson towards third man for two to complete his double hundred off 367 balls. He took off his helmet and bowed down on the turf in celebration.

Shafiq also completed his century with a sweep boundary off leg-spinner Adil Rashid as the pair erased the previous best fifth wicket stand of 219 set by Paul Collingwood and Eoin Morgan at Nottingham in 2010.

Malik, recalled to the Test side after five years, has so far hit 24 boundaries and three sixes during his 400-ball knock, having come in to bat in the third over of the match.

Shafiq too has batted with resolve, knocking ten boundaries of 215 balls.

Malik resumed at 124 and hit a four and six off wicket-less Rashid before smashing a boundary off seamer Mark Wood to better his previous best score as well as completing 150.

His previous best of 148 not out came against Sri Lanka in Colombo in 2006.

Both Malik and Shafiq left England bowlers to toil further and ruing the two chances they failed to grab against the two batsmen.

Malik was caught off a Stuart Broad's no-ball on 40 and Shafiq was let off by Ian Bell off Anderson when on ten -- both on Tuesday.

Anderson was England's most successful bowler with 2-42.

Both England's spinners -- debutant Rashid and Moeen Ali -- failed to make an impact on a pitch which is expected to take turn as the game progressed.

Rashid, who was hit for three sixes by Malik, is wicket-less in his 34 overs conceding 163 runs -- the worst figures in an innings on debut.

Previously Australia's Bryce McGain had the worst figures of 149-0 on debut against South Africa at Cape Town in 2009. 

Source: AFP