Captain Alastair Cook led England’s reply to Pakistan’s daunting 523-8 declared with a fine unbeaten 168 in the first Test in Abu Dhabi.He batted throughout the third day but England lost two wickets in three overs late on as they closed on 290-3, needing 34 more to avoid the follow-on.
Cook added 116 for the first wicket with Moeen Ali (35) and 165 for the second with Ian Bell.
Bell fell for 63 to Wahab Riaz, who also removed nightwatchman Mark Wood.
Those two wickets for four runs boosted Pakistani spirits on another day when bat dominated ball, on a soporific surface which has been widely criticised.
Cook’s 28th Test century was typical of so many of his previous 27, founded on patience, discipline and excellent shot selection.
He dominated his first Test opening stand with Moeen Ali, tucking the ball off his pads with customary ease and capitalising on any width afforded outside off stump.
His approach was unaffected by the departure of Moeen, who was caught behind for 35 pushing at Rahat Ali shortly before lunch to end a patient first innings as a Test opener.
Cook had made 147 by the time he offered a chance, substitute fielder Fawad Alam dropping a tumbling effort at backward square-leg off a top-edged sweep.
With only 11 wickets falling in nine sessions – four of which came when Pakistan were chasing declaration runs – criticism of the pitch at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium showed no sign of abating.
Although the spinners found turn from early on the first day the surface sorely lacks pace and bounce and there has been negligible reverse-swing with the older ball.