Pakistan vs England - Match Report: First Test in Abu Dhabi ends in draw as bad light stops play

Paul Newman: England were narrowly denied one of the most unexpected and greatest Test victories in their history today when they ran out of time to complete the most unlikely of run-chases.

Four and a half days of staid Test cricket which looked certain to lead to a draw gave way to an extraordinary climax which saw debutant Adil Rashid take five wickets to leave England needing 99 to win in just 19 overs.

That was eminently possible in this Twenty20 age but the problem was that the Abu Dhabi light ran out before they could complete this first Test and England fell agonisingly short on 74 for four, just 25 runs short, with eight overs left unbowled.

The Test finished, almost farcically, with the floodlights on but with Australian umpires Paul Reiffel and Bruce Oxenford deciding that the artificial light was not good enough to complete the contest.

What agony for England but what a remarkable comeback from the depths of conceding 523 for eight in their first innings and handing Pakistan the initiative by dropping two chances and taking a wicket with a no-ball.

That comeback was epitomised by Rashid who conceded the most expensive figures by a debutant in Test history in the first innings but ripped through the Pakistan order just as the teams looked poised to shake hands on a draw.

The last five Pakistan wickets fell for just 14 runs in five overs as they collapsed to 173 all out, a lead of 98, after England had earlier declared on 598 for nine to try to put pressure on their hosts.

It has to be said that Pakistan contributed to their own demise, with their veteran batsmen Younis Khan and captain Misbah-ul-Haq both handing Rashid their wickets with terrible shots.

But there was also some classical spin bowling from the Yorkshireman who became the first English leg-spinner to take five wickets in a Test innings since Tommy Greenhough against India at Lord’s back in 1959.

It was vindication for Rashid, who has had to wait six years since his first involvement with the England senior team for his Test debut, and England coach Trevor Bayliss who has wanted to include him ever since he took over ahead of the Ashes and has finally got his chance to pair him with Moeen Ali here.

That left England with a race against time but they did everything they could to force the pace by promoting Moeen and Jos Buttler to open and sending in Joe Root, Ben Stokes Jonny Bairstow and Ian Bell all ahead of captain Alastair Cook.

The finale brought back memories of England’s famous victory in the gloom of Karachi in 2000 when umpire Steve Bucknor ignored Pakistani time wasting to let the game reach its natural conclusion.

And with floodlights now in place there is every reason to expect the game to finish naturally even though it was clearly very gloomy when the Australian officials called a halt.

But ultimately England could not quite pull it off even though they can take great heart from what became an outstanding performance, led by Cook’s marathon 14 hour 268, after a chastening first two days and will approach the second Test in Dubai next Thursday with their confidence greatly enhanced. Not least Rashid.

We all knew this would be a draw but at least it was an entertaining draw. The fading of the light catches up with England and they fall 25 runs short of victory despite a valiant effort.

You could tell from the loss of those early wickets and the Pakistan field placings that the run rate in the chase was too slow to match the sinking of the sun. 

But what an outstanding effort from England to keep alive their chances of winning this first Test when it seemed destined to fizzle out. 

Adil Rashid was outstanding with those five wickets as Pakistan were bowled out and forced to endure a nervous last hour-and-a-half as England pushed for an unlikely win. 

But time ran out and we now head to Dubai with the series still level.

The umpires checking the light again and decide we can carry on. Pakistan's 12th man is sent back. No drinks needed!

It's 17:42 in Abu Dhabi, already this is the longest day of the match. England again being restricted to singles. There's nobody near the square, all the fielders are on the boundary. 

The first complaint that the fielders couldn't see the ball and Joe Root struggling too. That's a dot ball. Not what England need at all. 

Five singles from the over.

Ian Bell is the next batsman in for England and he gets going with a single, then Root does likewise. Pakistan thought the over was finished but one ball remains, and a reverse sweep fetches another single. But that one belonged to Pakistan. 

The umpires have the light meter in hand but we're carrying on and it will be a return to the spin of Zulfiqar. 

Root plays high into the air, gets away with it. But now Bairstow has gone - played, well down the track and missed and is stumped. He's given England hope though. 

Pakistan once again having a meeting in the middle, the umpires once again telling them to get on with it. We're only had spinner so far but Wahab Riaz will now come on - a pace man. More deliberations and discussions. Pakistan are in no hurry. 

About two minutes between the over and Bairstow can only find the fielder - another single. Next comes the short ball and it strikes Root on the underarm as he tried to whack it. England pass the midway point - 49 left to get.

Finally, a good connection! Jonny Bairstow with a sweet hit and it's gone onto the grass verge for SIX! Massive shot from a long way outside off stump. They'll need to fetch that one.

Riaz with a wide next ball and the pressure mounts on him. Excellent running for another couple, scrambled through did Bairstow. 

Another good shot and that's another two for Bairstow, who is cashing in all of a sudden. And England conclude with FOUR. 17 off the over. Pakistan's switch to seam backfires. 

Root making the fielders work hard and there's a little spillage there that allows England to scramble through for a second. England just seem capable of picking out the fielders at the moment - a boundary is desperately needed.

Bairstow attempts the reverse sweep and it strikes his pads. An appeal of course but outside the line. 

Malik continues to offer absolutely nothing and Bairstow can only get a single, while Root gets two off the last delivery. Good running and six off the over.

England really need to kick on somehow, otherwise the light will fade and this opportunity will get away from them. Just three boundaries in this innings so far.

Yet more singles before some excellent running from Bairstow to get a second. Helped by a slightly wayward throw. Root then lifts one into the gap, good placement but it'll only be two more. 

Seven from the over in total. 57 to go. 

The floodlights are turned on. Next batsman in is Jonny Bairstow and England need 64 from 13.1 overs. 

From the experience of the past few days, the light will very shortly start to creep away. Stokes trying to hit a six but will have to make do with a single as the ball fails to get off the ground. A man in the deep almost everywhere as you'd imagine.

Root does manage to locate a bit of a gap and they get two this time, then another single to the same region. 

The more they continue, the more important a boundary becomes. Stokes knows it and aims for the boundary but he picks out the reliable hands of Mohammed Hafeez and he's gone as well. 

Ben Stokes joins Joe Root, who is engaged in conversation with the wicketkeeper. Root gains a single and gets the new man on strike for the last ball of the over. And Stokes off the mark right away with a single. Five singles and a wicket from the over.

Paul Newman: How tense is this?? Ben Stokes sprinted to the crease to get on with this run-chase there. I have a horrible feeling bad light is going to have the final say. But I so hope I'm wrong. What with this and Spurs taking on Liverpool at the same time i can't cope with all this excitement….

The umpires checking the time - there are 15 overs left to play from here. 17.09 local time.

Root plays it away for a single, yet more outfield adjustments, then Ali finds one of them but it's another one. This is a gripping battle of wits between bowler and batsmen. 

And the bowler comes out on top again - looked to be loads of room to find the gap but Moeen Ali has picked out the man in the deep as he attempted to score the boundary so sorely needed. England two down.

Shoaib Malik with some tight bowling to Moeen Ali, three precious dot balls for Pakistan before the batsman gets enough on one to beat the bowler's trailing hand and grab a single. 

The Malik really lets himself down - wide and on an inviting length and Root says 'thank you very much' as he drives it for a vital FOUR. 

Looks like England may to do this in ones and twos as the clock at the ground ticks past 5pm. Moeen and Root collect singles, then Root hoists one high into the air and uses a life as it drops between two fielders. 

Some determined running collects another couple off Root's slog and the deficit is 80. It's precisely five runs an over at this point. 

One more single from Root to end the over.

Buttler barely back to the rope as Joe Root strides out to the crease. A couple of valuable minutes were eaten up by that review and it hasn't worked out in England's favour.

A single first up to get the new man off the mark and that's the end of the over. 85 needed.

We will have spin from both ends, with Shoaib Malik being deployed to Moeen initially. Boos from the England fans as Shoaib strolls around ordering the field about as the shadows lengthen. 

Buttler looks on impressed as Shoaib steps on the ball and then starts hobbling. Of course. Two runs for Ali as they run hard, then straight down the ground for FOUR. Nice one-day shot. A more delicate shot next by Moeen and he gets another single. 

Buttler then struck above the knee roll. A loud appeal. Given. Reviewed. They're checking for the inside edge and the height. Wasting a lot of valuable time, this. 

Umpire concludes there was no inside edge, so we wait for the Hawkeye, which confirms Buttler is out. 

Some sharp spin straight away for the left-armer Zulfiqar, who has already delayed us twice. Ali sweeps and gets England on their way as the Barmy Army once again give us a rousing rendition of Jerusalem. 

Buttler takes about four strides down the track to that one but can't profit. He does next ball though, lovely sweep and that's the first of what will need to be many boundaries.

The spinner doesn't help his side's cause by bowling a wide, but a tidy dot ball to finish. Six from the first over.

Right then, here we go. Moeen Ali has come out with Jos Buttler, so let's look forward to some big-hitting.

Now how do Pakistan approach this - apart from the obvious slow over rate? Pace? Spin? A mixture of both? 

It will be Zulfiqar to get us underway...

That's wrapped it up nicely! Outstanding from England and Adil Rashid in particular and it's a carbon copy of the ninth wicket. 

Well then, can England get the 99 runs required to run in what will probably be another 40 minutes of play after the turn around? 

Paul Newman: Wow. Just wow. Five wickets for Adil Rashid after recording the worst figures by an England debutant in the first innings! What an extraordinary game Test cricket is. And now we have a run-chase! England met make 99 to win in 19 overs but the light fades quickly here. And the umpires set a precedent last night by coming off at 5.40pm even though the floodlights were on. So will we get the 19 overs in?? And will Alastair Cook open??

That's well played by Sarfraz, who hooks it away to the boundary for FOUR and takes Pakistan's lead to 98. 

But will it be enough? Another wicket... Again testament to the safe hands of Jimmy Anderson, who clings on to an edge from a brilliant Adil Rashid ball that turned away deviously. 

So it's effectively 98-9 - could England do this? 

Now then, here's the equation in this match, which has suddenly become quite interesting. England need two more wickets as quickly as possible and then sufficient time to knock off the Pakistan lead, which currently stands at 94.

If we go on the deterioration of the light from previous days in this Test, we probably have less than one hour of play left and that's not good news for England. 

Paul Newman:  That is a brave but I believe correct decision from TV umpire S Ravi. Fair play to him. We know that the TV camera lies in those situations because of the two-dimensional images and it would have been easy for the Indian official to decide there was doubt there. But all cricketing instinct told you Jimmy Anderson caught that. All those replays have taken five minutes out of the game for England's run-chase now! It's getting very tight for time now.

Zulfiqar is the latest to the crease and, as Paul said, England will be starting to think they have a chance here. If nothing else, it will stand them in good stead for the next Test as this proves they can be more than competitive in these unforgiving conditions. 

Moeen will try and get stuck into the new man, and there's an edge and has Anderson taken it? Given out but the umpires want to have another look. Did it bounce? Was it a clean take? Brilliant one-handed catch at the lowest possible point from Jimmy.

Replay after replay and it's given! England roll on. 

Interesting... another wicket for England. Wahab goes as quickly as he came. Another testing ball from Ali, the batsman tried to fend it off but it comes off his glove, then shoulder pad and is caught by Bairstow at short leg. 

Paul Newman: Well, well, we still have a game here!! Two more wickets to England, one of them gifted on a plate by a quite awful shot from Misbah-ul-Haq, and the most unlikely of wins is still possibility! Pakistan are just 90 ahead with three wickets remaining but realistically we only have just over an hour's play left before the light goes. This could go to the wire!

Pakistan are down into the bowlers now, with Wahab Riaz next in. His partner Sarfraz just trying to gain a few more runs to remove any remaining slender doubt that England could win this. Six runs off that Rashid over, all in singles and twos. 

Here comes Moeen Ali once more and it pays off straight away. Misbah-ul-Haq has played so well but it truly went wrong there. Tried to whack Moeen down the ground, missed badly and lost his stumps! Wasn't close to making contact if we're honest. 

The drinks break all the more important in these sweltering conditions and each of the players grateful to be taking on some cool water and to take a breather.

Rashid continues tirelessly and Pakistan gain a bye as the ball sneak past the sole slip. Sarfraz the main beneficiary from that over, scoring four runs in a couple of batches of two.

Pakistan's lead is 77 as Ben Stokes steams in to bowl and Sarfraz just does what is necessary to keep him out. The batsman has an unusual squatting style, his knees bent almost at right-angles as he gets low to each shot. 

That will be the drinks break.

Good consistent work from Adil Rashid, who has impressed during this innings. Sarfraz brings up the Pakistan 150 and then Misbah completes his 30th Test match 50 with a little sweep shot. They needed their captain to perform and just steer the game away from England's reach, and that's precisely what he has done. 

Ben Stokes strides purposefully to his mark as England seek the quick domino effect of wickets that might yet make this contest interesting.

A single apiece for the batsmen off the over. 

Sarfraz Ahmed is the next batsman and he makes a blistering start, striking a couple of boundaries.

Another wicket for Rashid... he finds the edge of Shafiq's bat and it's caught behind. The batsman reviews, more out of hope given the absence of technology to prove his innocence. After another look, the out verdict stands and Pakistan are five down. 

We said this about Younis not so long ago and it put the mockers on him but Misbah is closing in on his half-century. He gets two and then FOUR and Wood is suddenly bowling an expensive over.

Wood not being aided by his run-up, with two no balls called. Misbah warps up the over with an attempted pull but he doesn't hit it sweetly and gets just a single to move his personal total on to 44.

Rashid's wicket will boost his confidence ahead of the forthcoming Tests in Dubai and Sharjah and he's doing well already.

Finds drift and turn and Misbah half-plays and half-defends and it loops up over the slip fielder, dropping safe behind them. Nice ball.

No such luck off the last ball though, Shafiq goes after Rashid and despite failing to get the sweetest of connections, it still has enough to fly away for FOUR. 

Mark Wood hoping to follow Adil Rashid and get in amongst the wickets in this evening session. There's a loud appeal but the ball was clearly passing leg stump and it's a leg bye given. 

Just one off that Adil Rashid over, a bye, as the game continues to meander. 

Asad Shafiq is the next batsman in the middle and he wastes no time at all in getting off the mark, punching through a gap in the covers for three off Mark Wood's bowling. 

Misbah adds two more and he has now reached 33 but his attempted pull shot off the final ball isn't a sweet connection and it flops down safe on the off-side.

Well done Adil Rashid! His persistence and perseverance pays off for a first Test wicket and it's not a bad one - Younis Khan. 

Spin and turn located and the shot goes high up into the air off the bottom of the bat and into the safe hands of Ben Stokes in the covers.

Paul Newman: Adil Rashid has his first Test wicket! That will make him feel a whole lot better. He's bowled better today than in the first innings but he still needed an awful shot from Younis Khan to give him that all-important first victim. The ball did turn, mind. So the Test was starting to go asleep but is there one final kick left?

Misbah with a fine awareness of the gaps in the field, spotting the hole at third man and playing it through there to pick up FOUR off Wood. 

The rest of the over is scoreless and the final ball strikes the ducking Misbah on the shoulder.

So, what outstanding business remains in this match? Well, perhaps Younis Khan can make a half-century. He moved a little closer with an attacking shot that is lifted over the covers and goes to the boundary for FOUR. He then adds a single and moves onto 45. 

Mark Wood will be given another burst. It was a curious one earlier on when he was given just two overs and then replaced by spin. 

Clean and tidy over from Wood and Misbah isn't able to make any gains. 

Adil Rashid turning the ball over in his hands as he gets us underway after tea. No sign of the heat fading and the spin remains slow. Just one run off that over, Misbah slicing away to point. 

The two teams re-emerge for the evening session, the last one of this Test match. We can assume with a fair degree of certainty that we are heading for a draw and so it remains a matter of when they will shake hands.

Lawrence Booth: If England were to have any chance of forcing what would have gone down as one of their greatest Test wins, they needed to split Younis Khan and Misbah-ul-Haq early. But with those two still in situ at tea, this first Test is destined for a draw.

Alastair Cook’s team threw everything at the two Pakistani veterans after lunch, including close-set split fields that hemmed the batsmen in but never really threatened a catch. At one point, Jimmy Anderson was operating to two leg slips. Hell, it was worth a try.

And who knows what might have happened had Stuart Broad persuaded umpire Bruce Oxenford of the merits of two lbw shouts, one against each batsman.

The first, against Misbah on three, was shown by the ball-tracking technology to have been trimming the bails. The second, against Younis on 19, was clattering in to the top of leg stump, but on its wrong side as far as DRS is concerned.

Then, 10 minutes before tea, came more frustration for England. Anderson appealed for leg-before against Misbah, now on 19, before the ball ricocheted into the hands of Ben Stokes in the gully.

Oxenford raised his finger, prompting Misbah to ask for a review. The technology suggested the ball would have hit the top of the stumps – another umpire’s call. But Oxenford had wrongly given Misbah out caught, not lbw, and so had to reverse his decision.

England looked baffled, but – according to the rubric – the correct procedure had been followed. With it, perhaps, went their last chance of stealing this Test.

This is potentially the final over before tea and it's certainly been Pakistan's session. A few scares, certainly, but they have hung in there, recovered from their shaky start, and in so doing have eliminated any chance of England winning this. 

Jimmy Anderson, with Jos Buttler right up to the stumps, hoping to break this productive Misbah and Younis partnership before the interval. 

Instead it's back-to-back boundaries from Khan that take us in and Pakistan will be feeling much better about things.

And so after that brief moment of confusion, Pakistan continue just the three wickets down and Misbah proceeds to hit Moeen on the spin, over the top and away for FOUR. 

Paul Newman: Controversy there. Bruce Oxenford had given that out caught but replays showed that Misbah didn't touch it. So the fact it was umpire's call on lbw didn't matter because he had ruled it not out on that mode of dismissal. Confused?? Who wouldn't be by this damned Decision Review System. It's brought so much damage to the game, I tell you. Anyway, Misbah lives to fight another day.

Yet more towel-related drama... earlier, we had towels dropping out of trousers all over the place and as Anderson's towel flew out when delivering that ball, Buttler was put off. 

He could only parry the ball over his head and Pakistan gain a single that probably wasn't on otherwise. 

Is there a joke here? Oh yes, when will both teams throw in the towel and call it a draw? 

Pakistan showing no signs of that as yet. Misbah flicking it away off the front pad and gets FOUR. 

Hang on though, we have a review. Anderson ball strikes the pads. Appeal for leg before and bat-pad...OUT! But reviewed. 

And then all kinds of confusion. The umpire gave him out caught at gully not for the lbw. The replays showed it didn't catch the inside edge so couldn't be out caught.

And therefore, Misbah survives. Bah. 

Another shout, another discussion, another decision not to appeal. Moeen Ali with a good ball but it was sliding wide of leg stump. The replays prove it was the right decision not to review it.

The next few prove rather painful for Bairstow at short leg, struck twice on the inside of the leg and then on the helmet!

Packed leg-side field as Anderson bowls to Younis. The first two don't make it through but Anderson had done enough to make him think and the third ball hits him high on the pad. Too high unfortunately. Maiden nonetheless.

And that will wipe out the deficit. Misbah sweeping down through third man and, despite the valiant efforts of Ben Stokes at full stretch in the field, it reaches the rope for FOUR. Pakistan now leading.

Misbah going after Ali with the sweep shot and, though it wasn't the cleanest of connections, he picks up another couple. 

Anderson steaming in again and Misbah strides forward and plays the ball in front of square for a single. Pakistan closing in on erasing their deficit and Younis takes the arrears down to a mere three runs with a couple down to point.

For the first time today, it's Moeen Ali and the change of bowler prompts Misbah to actually play at one, a sweep which he doesn't quite pull off, but he gains a single anyway from the fielder's fumble.

Younis gets a better connection on an identical shot and it flies over the short leg and will run clear for FOUR. The fielder is immediately pushed back into the gap. 

Another appeal as the ball hits Misbah high on the pad. An appeal but obviously going over. At least according to the umpire but replays suggest there might have been a case if he was playing a shot. 

Paul Newman: It is imperative England get through these two wise old Pakistan batsmen soon if they are to win this game. They have really dropped anchor now. This is the ground where Misbah has a fabulous record - a century in each of his last four Tests here and an average of 120. He also scored the fastest Test century of all time here against Australia off 56 balls! He won't be repeating any of that strokeplay today. Remember, he was unlucky to be given out on review in the first innings of this Test when TV umpire S Ravi took it upon himself to overturn a caught behind without HotSpot nor Snicko! I think Misbah wants to make up for that one by leading his team to safety here.

Plenty out on the leg side for Broad and there's a muted shout for leg before penultimate ball. Nothing doing. 

Then his long run of dot balls is ended as Younis simply helps a ball that was sliding down the leg side on its way and picks up FOUR more. 

A new tactic being attempted as Anderson comes back on, with Buttler standing right up to the stumps. The first delivery is worked away by Younis for a single and the scheme is immediately abandoned as Buttler shuffles back again. 

Anderson then gets one to skim and keep low but it's outside the line and Misbah watched it dribble past him. 

Broad, who has only allowed four runs to slip in his first half-a-dozen overs, continues in the same vein with another tight maiden over to Misbah, who seems content to leave it and bed in here.

Jimmy Anderson has been given a nice breather and now returns to see if he can add to those two early wickets. 

He finds a little bit of reverse swing, which offers promise, but Younis has seen it all before and blocks well. 

Jos Buttler also doing his bit close up behind the stumps to encourage and keep the pressure on these batsmen. Maiden. 

Misbah does well to keep focus as Younis at the non-strikers end dropped his bat just as Broad was at the point of delivery. That's not what you need.

A stifled appeal as Broad's next ball angles down and glances the pads. No chance. Misbah looks set for the long haul, possibly the remaining duration of this match. Unless England can do something to remove him... 

Rashid, who continues to find a good line, searching for the little area of rough. Younis gains a couple through the off side with a clean strike and that's the only score from that over, another tidy one by Rashid. 

The Pakistan fans that are present now making themselves heard down in the grandstand. They're being led by a cheerleader with a wonderfully thick moustache. 

Anyway, Stuart Broad back into the attack and Misbah blocking him out just outside the line of off stump. The over culminates with a loud appeal, rapped on the pads but England choose not to review this time. 

Alastair Cook ran straight up to Broad to gauge his opinion. Replays show it was clipping the bails on leg stump and since the umpire's call was not out, a good decision by England.

Misbah steps forward and pushes it out to deep point to earn a single and get off the strike to Rashid, who is keeping it pretty tight at the moment. 

Younis is alert to the quicker delivery, straightening his bat in time to block and deflect. And he too manages to grab a single down through the covers.

Misbah finds the same area and Pakistan now trail by just 20. 

Stokes seeing what Younis is made of, raising the pace and finding a fuller length and another over passes by. A maiden and England remain in the ascendancy. 

Rashid plugging away and Misbah is able to steal a single with a little flick into midwicket, while Younis takes advantage of some extra width to cut into the covers.

Well then, can England keep this going? Misbah-ul-Haq is the new man at the crease. Alongside Younis a couple of experienced campaigners - and that wisdom will be needed. 

Stokes fancies a piece of the action, his confidence bolstered by that excellent run-out. 

Misbah turns and works the ball away for a single to get off the mark. Younis then sensibly leaving a ball that did dart in towards off stump. 

Oh, what a bonus for England! An ill-advised single that was never really on, Hafeez stalled in the middle and Ben Stokes at point, spinning and hurling, throws down the non-strikers stumps. Hafeez well, well short of his ground. 

Paul Newman: What a brilliant piece of fielding from Ben Stokes! Hesitation from Mohammed Hameez proved fatal there. That's more like the fielding Trevor Bayliss wants to see from England. The Pakistan wobble is very much on now! Could we be about to see an England away win against Pakistan on a par with Karachi 2000? Stay tuned! This could be very interesting…

Chance? Half-chance? Younis's edge flashed past Ian Bell very quickly at slip and was not only wide of him but at ankle height. Would have been a miraculous catch. It runs away under Bell's outstretched reaction arm to the boundary for FOUR.

Stokes bowling at a ferocious high-80s pace despite the heat. 

Urgent shout of 'catch' from behind the stumps as Hafeez noodles the ball away on the leg side. Wide of the fielder and safe. 

Tidy maiden over from Rashid. 

The deficit is down to 32 now and Stokes, lathered in sun block and grinning to himself, storms in and bowls on a line and length that persuades Younis to duck but not play at. 

Until the last ball that is, when the batsman loses patience and flicks the bat. The ball flies past and no damage is done, but a few gasps in the field. 

Adil Rashid, who is wearing bright green spikes, returns to the attack. An excellent opportunity to make himself at home in the Test match arena and perhaps collect his first few wickets.

Younis takes a big step forward and pushes the ball through to cover for a single for starters before Hafeez swipes the wider second ball off for another. Younis then picks up just two with a firm drive through the covers that found the fielder.

Younis Khan defends the first Stokes ball and earns a single as he pushes it away. 

The controversy continues over that review just before lunch but without Hot Spot or Snicko, it remains very hard to see how Hafeez could have been given out. 

Good over from Stokes, varying the length and speed, and his final ball almost tempts Younis into a nibble. 

Welcome back... Can England make further inroads early in this afternoon session? Will Pakistan wobble or hold firm? 

The players are back out, with Ben Stokes revving up for his first over. 

Lawrence Booth in Abu Dhabi: Joe Root wasn’t taken altogether seriously when he suggested last night that England could still win this Test. But his optimism didn’t seem so misplaced when Jimmy Anderson quickly reduced Pakistan to 3 for 2 in their second innings, still 72 behind.

A draw remains favourite, but England’s gradual claiming of the ascendancy in this Test – and remember that Pakistan went in to tea on the second day on 499 for 4 – has been every bit as impressive as their blink-and-you-missed-them Ashes wins over the summer.

If Alastair Cook has claimed the headlines for his epic 263, then Anderson deserves a few of his own. His first-innings figures of 22-7-42-2 would have been more outstanding had Ian Bell not dropped two catches off him at second slip.

Now, in his second over of Pakistan’s second innings, he bowled Shan Masood for the second time in the match, then had Shoaib Malik – Wednesday’s double-centurion – fending to short leg for a duck.

That moved Anderson up to joint-ninth on Test cricket’s all-time wicket-taking list, level with Indian off-spinner Harbhajan Singh on 417. By the end of this series, he could be challenging seventh-placed Richard Hadlee’s 431. He really is one heck of a bowler.

There are 67 overs left today, which may yet be enough for England – who had earlier established a lead of 75 – to give Pakistan a scare. And if they can make quick work of Younis Khan and Misbah-ul-Haq, the two elder statesmen of the Pakistani line-up, scare them is precisely what they will do.

After the various disappointments of the first two days, this has been a performance full of character by England – the kind which has often been missing in the first Test of an overseas series.

Not just Cook, but Moeen Ali, Ian Bell, Joe Root and Ben Stokes all played their part with the bat. The seamers have never been less than wholehearted. Dubai, which should spin more than Abu Dhabi and will see the return of leggie Yasir Shah, ought to provide a tougher examination.

But, for now, England have learned that they are not out of their depth in the desert.

One final over of spin before the lunch break... 

Younis grabs a single. Slips and a gully in place for Hafeez, as England attempt to slow him down.

Then, a loud appeal from behind the stumps as Rashid's ball slips past the blade of Hafeez. Top spinner and finding some spin out the rough. Did it hit the bat? Umpire thinks not, we go upstairs. No luck for England, no contact. 

And Hafeez responding with an almighty SIX off the final ball, striding down the pitch and hitting it beautifully straight and into the stand.

And the bails are off, it's lunch. 

That sat up very nicely for Hafeez and he swipes Wood's delivery to the boundary for FOUR more. Wood's follow up is much better and Hafeez has to withdraw his bat at the final moment. 

But the opener looks in excellent form and shows it there, with a crisp, clean drive through the off-side for another FOUR. 

And we will see a little bit of spin with 10 minutes until lunch. It's Adil Rashid to turn his arm over and Younis seizes the opportunity to get off the mark. Hafeez grabs a single as well. 

Paul Newman: Here comes Adil Rashid. What an opportunity he has here. He had a nightmare in the first inning shut, to be fair, it was put in some sort of context by the troubles Pakistan's spinner had on this pitch. Trevor Bayliss believes in Rashid, is desperate for him to establish himself, and has already guaranteed that he will play in Dubai next week. England are hoping with pressure off him he will relax and become the wicket-taking, attacking bowler Yorkshire know so well.

Short, sharp bursts of bowling the order of the day in these stifling conditions and, to that end, here comes Mark Wood to replace two-wicket Jimmy Anderson. Adil Rashid also warming up. 

Hafeez not doing anything risky as he sizes up the new bowler, whose towel keeps falling out of his trousers each time he runs in. Towel-related problems for Wood and Anderson then.

The batsmen bides his time and then contentedly flicks the final ball away for two to keep the scoreboard ticking along. 

England persisting with the pace men for now. Broad has been neat and tidy so far and he keeps his foot on the gas and the pressure on Younis, who isn't yet off the mark. 

Younis knocks one into the dust and it bounces up to Broad, who shies at the stumps and hits. No problem with that arm. 

Broad bowling straight and with pace, offering very little. Another maiden over.

About 25 minutes left until lunch now as England try and make this successful morning even better. Not that time though, Hafeez, who looks in good nick, slashes and finds the gap between the fielders on the off-side to gain FOUR. 

Jimmy having a chuckle to himself. He went to throw the ball and accidentally (I think) grabbed the hand towel tucked into the back of his trousers and threw that instead.

Stuart Broad looking to replicate the straight line that saw off those two Pakistan batsmen a short time ago. He's getting there - maiden over.

Anderson with his tail up as you would imagine, hoping to pile on the pressure. But Hafeez prods it down the ground and gets FOUR as Alastair Cook, fielding at mid-off because of that strapping on his hand, fails to cut it off. 

Younis Khan is the next man in for Pakistan but it's Hafeez who lifts the pressure temporarily as he gets a couple off Stuart Broad. 

The England man trying some short stuff of his own but Hafeez is equal to it, pivoting and swinging his bat for another single. 

And there is an outside edge found with the final ball but it doesn't quite carry to Joe Root. Still, more encouraging signs for England. 

More joy for England and James Anderson, who is presumably feeling a little better than he did when called in early from batting! 

Shoaib Malik, the danger man, lasts just four balls. Can't fend off that Anderson bouncer and it loops up for a simple Bairstow catch at short leg. 

The batsman just had no alternative to try and fend it off having decided to play and it couldn't have been simpler for Bairstow. 

Paul Newman: Hello, hello! Shoaib Malik scored 245 in the first innings but he's gone for a duck now and jimmy Anderson has two wickets in the over! And to think Michael Vaughan said Anderson shouldn't play in this Test! There will be a few nerves in the Pakistan camp now. That was a terrific piece of bowling from England's master craftsman. And now he is joint ninth with Harbhajan Singh in the leading wicket-takers of all time list.

Oh dear, a calamity for Shan Masood. Anderson, returning to the fray, with a straight one and it comes off the bottom of his bat, bounces up against his elbow and rolls back onto the stumps as he tried frantically to swot it away. Fantastic start for England. 

Paul Newman: Has the Pakistan wobble started?? That ball from Jimmy Anderson kept a bit low and Shan Masood was bowled off his elbow to follow being bowled off his helmet in the first innings. It takes just one bad session to lose a Test. That's all. We have seen it happen so many times before, particularly in the third innings of a match. A couple more before lunch and this really would be interesting.

As expected, Stuart Broad will start at the opposite end. Can he find something beneficial in this pitch? Gets away with a clear no ball first up. 

Masood follows his partner in getting off the mark with a single into midwicket. 

Another burst of Jerusalem from the Barmy Army as England push the slips as close as possible and get stuck in to Pakistan. Joe Root joining in the chorus. 

They're away with a couple from Hafeez, worked neatly away into the gap on the off-side. 

A quick turnaround and England trot back out into the sunshine no doubt feeling pretty satisfied by the way they overhauled Pakistan's huge first innings total.

Pakistan's openers Mohammed Hafeez and Shan Masood will first have to knock off England's advantage of 75 runs.

With an hour until lunch, England will hope for early gains and James Anderson will take the ball.

Jimmy Anderson survives the review but Alastair Cook has seen enough and beckons them in. It's been hard graft for Pakistan and they will come back out to bat trailing England by 75 runs. 

Jimmy Anderson looks a bit annoyed, feels he was cut off in his prime no doubt! But he has a more important job to do now with the ball.

Will we now see a bit of drama? 

Paul Newman: So England declare. That's a bit of s surprise. I thought they would try to bat as close to lunch as possible then throw everything at Pakistan for two sessions. Oh well.

They have a lead of 75 and only one team can win this Test. Odds are heavily stacked on a draw, of course, but i wouldn't be surprised if there was a little late drama.

Anderson takes a giant stride down the pitch, tries to reverse sweep, the ball loops up. Pakistan and the umpire say it came off the bat. England not convinced...

Much contemplation of the replays. Everyone stood around in limbo. Replays have shown it struck the arm guard. A quick check for lbw as well for some reason. He's nowhere near out and the torment of Zulfiqar goes on. 

England closing in on the 600-run mark. Anderson flicks Imran Khan off the pads and around the corner for a single and Broad helps it away for another to backward square. 

Every England run just compounding Pakistan's misery further. 

Jimmy Anderson is the final man in for England - I'm sure he'll relish the chance to have a smash. His partner, Broad, is better set and takes his tally to 14 with a single. 

The last time England batted for 200 overs or more, according to the chaps on Sky, was in Antigua back in 1994. Sterling effort this. 

And Anderson off the mark, blotting out a straight Wahab delivery and scrambling through for a single.

Wahab smiles to himself and waves the hand of apology at Stuart Broad. The ball slipped out of his hand a split-second before the release and it goes flying over Broad's head to the wicketkeeper. He's been bowling for a long time, can forgive him one. 

Pakistan's increasingly desperate hunt for these last two England wickets will now see Imran Khan come on. Figures of 1 for 72 from his 25 overs so far. 

And he makes an immediate impact, smashing the stumps of Adil Rashid as he tried to play a drive through the off side. Sees leg and middle stump split as it angled back in. Lovely stuff. 

Fair to say that Imran doesn't celebrate too exuberantly. 

A big appeal once again, this time for a meaty length Wahab delivery. Raps Broad on the edge of the pads but quite clearly going down the leg side. 

Rashid flicks one off the hips for a single though he hasn't fully settled as yet. Wahab rounds things off with a bouncer that Broad gets out of the way of.

Testament to England's efforts here that the last time Pakistan bowled 200 overs in a Test match was 30 years ago. Not so many of their supporters present today, looks to be just England fans in an otherwise-deserted stand.

Back comes Zulfiqar Babar and there's an appeal second ball as Rashid is struck on the toe cap. Looked as though Pakistan might have a case but the umpire isn't interested. 

The replays show the wickets and impact were both umpire's call so England escape. 

A stronger appeal for an inside edge as Broad attempts to sweep into the leg side. Paul Reiffel again unmoved. 

Two Rashid runs and a leg bye from the over. 

Broad's face is more sun cream than man this morning, taking no chances in case the grille of his helmet fails to keep out those UV rays. 

A good chance for him to crack on here and build England's lead. They can't bat for too long if they want to push for a win. Wahab is the man most likely to mop up this England tail and he strikes Broad on the shoulder. 

Just a brush and it doesn't knock him off his stride. Broad collects two runs with some determined running off the final ball to get his own back. 

Ooof, stoke of luck for Rashid. Tried to drive but doesn't time it too well, gets the outside edge and almost catches the stumps as it goes out the square leg for a lucky single. Scratchy is probably the word.

More assured from Broad, who drives away for a couple to point and then for FOUR with a lovely shot that found the gap and had enough pace to evade the despairing dive of the fielder near the rope. 

Wahab Riaz bowling from the other end - he took the wickets of Bell, Bairstow and Wood yesterday. Can't dislodge Adil Rashid, however, as the spinner pulls away through midwicket for the only single of the over.

It had been a tidy over by Rahat Ali, right until the very last ball, that Broad was able to deflect down for FOUR to third man just as the England choir in the stands were straining their voices for the final lines of Jerusalem. Inspiration perhaps? 

That gets Broad off the mark from his eighth ball faced.

The players make their way out into the blazing sunshine for the fifth and final day. A lone cry of 'come on England' from the grandstand and then a rendition of Jerusalem.

We resume with Stuart Broad and Adil Rashid in the middle, the lead is 46. 

All the stats and facts about Cook's marathon innings, including...

Cook spent longer at the crease in this innings that both England’s football and rugby teams spent at on the pitch at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil and the 2015 Rugby World Cup combined – which was 590 minutes.

#Awkward 

Lawrence Booth in Abu Dhabi: Joe Root insisted England could stun Pakistan on the final day of the first Test after paying tribute to the record-breaking batting of his captain.

Alastair Cook's 263 – the highest score by an England batsman in an overseas Test since Wally Hammond's unbeaten 336 at Auckland way back in 1932-33 – helped his team to an improbable 46-run lead with two wickets in hand and a day to go.

'It was a hell of an effort,' said Root, who made a classy 85 and added 141 with Cook. 'To bat two days in that heat showed huge amounts of skill, concentration and fitness.

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Paul Newman: Good morning from Abu Dhabi where we are set for the last day of this first Test. Could there be a twist in the tale? Could England put Pakistan under pressure today?

Well, possibly. We have seen a lot of Tests in sub-continental conditions - and famously the one in Adelaide in 2006 - that look certain to be a draw until the third innings when all changes very quickly.

For that to happen England must try to bat for an hour this morning and then throw everything at Pakistan.

Realistically, they would have to bowl them out in 50 overs to have a chance of victory but stranger things have happened.

I know this Test has been slow but that has been dictated by the conditions. This pitch is too flat for Test cricket for not every game is crash bang wallop like the Ashes were.

There has still been much to admire, in particular a monumental effort from Alastair Cook. What a temperament he has. How important a leader he is to this England cricket team.

Yes, the odds are that this Test will fizzle out into a tame draw today but you never know. That's why Test cricket is the ultimate game. Even when it's dull!

Paul Newman in Abu Dhabi: On and on he marched, longer than all bar two men have ever spent batting in a Test innings. Goodness, he batted for longer than it took for the whole of last summer’s fourth Ashes Test at Trent Bridge to take place.

That old Alastair Cook just kept rolling relentlessly on for close to 14 extraordinary hours in this first Test before a controversial end to one of the most extraordinary innings ever played by an England batsman.

Forget the justifiable complaints that this first Test has been a monumental bore for those raised in an impatient, modern Twenty20 driven age.

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This first Test may be an unremarkable one in terms of entertainment, but at least we have seen history made.

Alastair Cook's incredible feat of endurance over the past two days will earn England at least a draw against Pakistan in Abu Dhabi.

The captain batted stoically for a 836 minutes, scoring 263 runs and recording the longest innings by an Englishman in 138 years of Test cricket.

It means that as we enter the final day at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium, England will resume on 569 for 8, a lead of 46 runs.

Welcome along to our live coverage of the concluding day.