Left-hander Saud Shakeel hit a solid maiden half-century Monday as Pakistan glided towards a tempting England target on the fifth and final day of the first Test in Rawalpindi.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The 27-year-old was unbeaten on 63 -- with Mohammad Rizwan on 42 -- as Pakistan reached 169-3 at lunch, needing another 174 in the final two sessions with seven wickets intact after being set a target of 343.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
England toiled hard for wickets but managed only one in the extended 135-minute session, when pacer James Anderson had opener Imam-ul-Haq caught down the leg side by keeper Ollie Pope for 48.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
England scored a record 657 in their first innings before dismissing Pakistan for 579.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The mammoth scoring prompted severe criticism of the Rawalpindi pitch, but the Test sprang to life after England batted briskly in their second innings before declaring at 264-7 on Sunday to set up an intriguing final day.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Resuming at 80-2, Pakistan added just 13 in the first 65 minutes with Rizwan not scoring off the first 23 balls he faced.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
He changed gear, however, hitting five boundaries and two sixes to begin the chase proper in an unbroken 80-run fourth wicket stand with Shakeel.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Shakeel cracked Leach for two boundaries to complete his half-century off 104 balls.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
England are on their first Test tour of Pakistan since 2005, having declined to visit in the interim years on security grounds.<\/p>\r\n\r\n