13 Oct 2015 | Cricket
James Anderson became the 10th highest wicket-taker in Test history but England were left to rue several missed chances as Pakistan closed day one of the first Test on 286 for four in Abu Dhabi.
Anderson struck early on to remove Shan Masood and dismissed Pakistan skipper Misbah-ul-Haq in the evening session to move to 415 Test wickets, overtaking Pakistan great Wasim Akram in the process.
However, Anderson's figures of 2-29 could have been even better but for Ian Bell dropping two chances at second slip off the Lancastrian.
Shoaib Malik also got a life on 40 when Joe Root caught a loose drive off Stuart Broad at fly slip, and he went on to record a first Test century since 2009 in his first format appearance for five years, eventually finishing unbeaten on 124.
England made a strong start to the day despite losing the toss on a placid wicket, with left-hander Masood playing and missing at the second ball of the third over of the day before being bowled by Anderson off his helmet three deliveries later.
Anderson almost added Mohammad Hafeez in a disciplined opening spell, but the opener was shelled by Bell on seven after edging behind.
That was to prove costly, as Hafeez and Malik combined to add 168 for the second wicket.
The only moment of consternation for the pair came in the 36th over, when Malik slashed a loose drive to Root only for replays to show it was a front-foot no-ball.
Having received a life on 40, Malik followed Hafeez to a half-century but the latter fell two runs short of his ton on the stroke of tea.
Ben Stokes, who in tandem with Mark Wood put in an enterprising shift late in the afternoon, was rewarded when one jagged back to trap the opener lbw.
Stokes had another lbw appeal turned down against Younus Khan after the break, and the 37-year-old went on to become Pakistan's leading Test run-scorer moments later with a six over long-on off Moeen Ali.
Malik, who was only added to the squad last week, then completed a remarkable return to Test cricket as he reached his ton with a thick edge off Broad which raced away for four.
But just as Younus and Malik were threatening to take the game away from England, scoring at more than five an over after tea, the former was out driving Broad to skipper Alastair Cook at short mid-on.
Cook's opposite number Misbah fell soon afterwards for three, with TV umpire S Ravi overturning Paul Reiffel's on-field decision and adjudging the 41-year-old had nicked Anderson to Jos Buttler.
Malik and Asad Shafiq then looked to drop anchor for the remainder of the evening session, but the latter was lucky to survive when he nicked the new ball from Anderson only for Bell to shell the chance late in the day.