Pakistani batsman Azhar Ali (R) plays a shot on the opening day of the first day-night Test between Pakistan and the West Indies at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium in the Gulf Emirate on October 13, 2016.
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AFP) — Openers Azhar Ali and Sami Aslam gave Pakistan a solid start against West Indies on the opening day of the day-night Test in Dubai on Thursday.
Pakistan were 81-0 at tea without losing a wicket after Misbah-ul-Haq won the toss and opted to bat in the second ever day-night Test, played with a pink ball instead of the traditional red, at Dubai stadium.
Ali, playing his 50th Test, was unbeaten on 38 and Aslam was 37 not out as West Indies’ pace-cum-spin attack failed to strike on a flat grass-less pitch which is expected to take spin after three days.
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.
It couldn’t have been a better start for Pakistan in a match marking their 400th Test, as they won a crucial toss and were given a rock solid start against the West Indies who entered the Test with three seamers and two spinners.
Pakistan gave Test caps to middle-order batsman Babar Azam and all rounder Mohammad Nawaz.
Ali, who has so far hit five boundaries, had a life when Leon Johnson failed to hold on a sharp chance at gully off paceman Miguel Cummins on 17.
West Indian captain Jason Holder brought on his part-time spinner Kraig Brathwaite in the 15th over and leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo in the 21st but there were no signs of spin.
Aslam has so far hit three boundaries in his 82-ball stay.
The remaining two Tests will be played in Abu Dhabi (October 21-25) and Sharjah (October 30-November 3).