Babar Azam impresses for Pakistan on first day of three-Test series

By the time the umpires waved the players off as the light faded, Masood remained unbeaten on 46, with Babar on 69, having struck 11 boundaries

• Scorecard: England v Pakistan
• Babar Azam's brilliance, Chris Woakes' clinic and a spot of turn and bounce...

Babar Azam and Shan Masood ensured that Pakistan enjoyed the better of a rain-interrupted first day of their three-Test series against England.

Opening batsman Masood and star man Azam shared an unbroken stand of 96 for the third wicket in between a lengthy afternoon rain delay, before bad light ultimately brought proceedings to a close shortly after they had returned to the field, with Dom Bess and Joe Root bowling off-spin from each end.

Earlier in the day ahead of the forecast showers, Masood and Abid Ali had begun in sedate fashion for Pakistan, playing the ball late and seeing off the new ball impressively.

James Anderson – 11 wickets short of 600 – and Stuart Broad were seen off, before Jofra Archer made the breakthrough, nipping a delivery back through Ali’s defence.

Pakistan captain Azhar Ali, who won the toss and elected to bat, was dismissed shortly afterwards to give England a major wicket. Chris Woakes struck the experienced No.3 on the front pad with a ball that angled into him, before the tourists began to take charge.

Masood was more circumspect, though he was dropped by Jos Buttler, who also missed a stumping opportunity against the left-hander.

Azam, meanwhile, was soon into his work, operating somewhere near his fluent best. He drove Broad for a boundary through mid-on, before stroking Bess through the covers when he overpitched.

By the time umpires Richard Kettleborough and Richard Illingworth waved the players off as the light faded, Masood remained unbeaten on 46, with Babar on 69, having struck 11 boundaries.

For unrivalled coverage of the county season, subscribe to The Cricketer and receive four issues for £15