Ton-up: Azhar lights up Pakistan's day-night Test

DUBAI: Opener Azhar Ali became the first batsman to record a century in a day-night Test off a pink ball as he helped Pakistan dominate West Indies in Dubai on Thursday.

Ali's unbeaten 146 guided Pakistan to 279-1 at close on the opening day of the first Test after Misbah-ul-Haq won the toss and opted to bat on a flat Dubai stadium pitch. Asad Shafiq was the other not out batsman at 33.

Ali put his name in the records book with a 366-minute stay at the crease, hitting 14 boundaries.

Ali and Sami Aslam, who fell for 90, started brightly with an imperious 215-run stand for the opening wicket.

Ali drove off-spinner Roston Chase to mid-off for his ninth boundary to complete his 11th Test century, his second in three matches, before pumping the air in jubilation.

Chase was the lone wicket-taker with 1-63 in 21 overs.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 14^th, 2016.