It was yet another day to forget in West Asia for the jaded West Indians as Azhar Ali (146 not out) and Sami Aslam (90) took Pakistan to a resounding 279/1 at the end of day/night one of the first Test in Dubai on Thursday.
After choosing to bat first, Pakistan's new opening pair, Ali and Aslam, strolled to a 215-run first-wicket stand before the latter missed out on a well-deserved hundred. After the fall of Aslam's wicket, Ali teamed up with Asad Shafiq (33 not out), who was promoted up the order, to build an unbeaten 64-run partnership at the close of play.
Pakistan, playing their 400th Test, rung in the changes with debuts handed out to the in-form Babar Azam and spinner Mohammad Nawaz. Under excellent batting conditions, Ali captialised on a West Indies pace attack who had taken a penchant for the short-pitched stuff. With a water-tight defence and a solid know-how of when to attack, Ali was a delight to watch.
Aslam was nervy compared to his senior partner and was happy to play second fiddle while Ali steered the ship. There was seldom any signs of the batsmen going for anything extravagant. Perhaps, it could have stemmed from the players not knowing what to expect from the pink-ball. This is only the second international Test under lights.
On occasions, Miguel Cummins looked like posing a threat or two by inducing the batsmen to drive on the full but the batsmen wore him and his fellow teammates down. With the lights traditionally offering bowlers assistance at night, there were hardly any swing on offer to upset Ali and Aslam's rhythm.
Just when things were beginning to get too easy for Pakistan, Aslam chopped on from a harmless Roston Chase delivery. Ali, meanwhile, had brought up his 11th hundred in what was his 50th Test. In the absence of Younis Khan, Shafiq was promoted up the order and was his dependable self in the final session of the day's play.
Brief scores:
Pakistan 279/1 (Azhar Ali 146 not out, Sami Aslam 90; Roston Chase 1/63) vs West Indies