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Pakistan in pink of health as openers lay solid foundation
DUBAI: Pakistan openers Azhar Ali and Sami Aslam stroked confident half-centuries to anchor their team’s rock solid start in the first day-night Test against West
DUBAI: Pakistan openers Azhar Ali and Sami Aslam stroked confident half-centuries to anchor their team’s rock solid start in the first day-night Test against West Indies in Dubai on Thursday.
Ali was unbeaten on 89 and Sami 75 not out to take Pakistan to 172-0 after they won the toss at Dubai stadium and opted to bat in the second ever day-night Test, played with a pink ball instead of the traditional red.
Australia and New Zealand featured in a day-night Test at Adelaide in November last year, the first-ever in Test cricket’s 140-year-old history.
Ali, playing his 50th Test, steered paceman Miguel Cummins for a double to reach his 21st half century. He has so far hit eight boundaries.
Aslam was equally resolute as he knocked his fifth boundary off spinner Roston Chase for his third half-century in his fifth Test as the two openers added 91 in the second session after they were 81-0 at tea.
West Indies consumed both their referrals, first against Ali off paceman Jason Holder when the batsman was on 38, and then on Aslam (69) off leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo — both leg-before appeals.
West Indies’ spinners failed to create any problems for Pakistan’s openers.
