Sports

5 important numbers from day one of first Pakistan-Windies Test

Pakistan captain Azhar Ali became first centurion in a day-night match

Sports Desk October 14, 2016

Azhar Ali became the first centurion in a day-night Test on Thursday. PHOTO: AFP

Pakistan and West Indies are facing off against each other in the first of the three-match Test series at Dubai International Cricket Stadium with the hosts firmly placed on 279-1 after day one.

Captain Azhar Ali’s 146 off 268 balls was the talking point of the first day but here are a few other numbers to take into account.

Misbah, Holder favour pink future of Tests

1 – is the number of day-night Tests played before this match. New Zealand played against hosts Australia in the first-ever day-night Test encounter at the Adelaide Oval in November last year. Australia won the match by three wickets.

1 – is the number of 200+ stands by any opening pair in Dubai. Azhar and Sami will take credit for this after they paired up for 215 runs on day one.

Azhar lights up Pakistan's day-night Test

2 – is the number of 150+ opening partnerships for Pakistan in the first innings of the Test match during the last half a century. First was between Ahmed Shehzad and Mohammad Hafeez against New Zealand in 2014 at Abu Dhabi. On Thursday, Azhar and Sami Aslam bettered that number.

2 – is the number of players who have scored more centuries in their first 50 Tests for Pakistan than Azhar’s 11 tons. Hanif Mohammad and Younus Khan had scored 12 tons each when they played their 50th Test, while Mohammad Yousuf also had 11 centuries after as many five-day matches.

All A-OK as Azhar and Aslam amaze audience

400 – is the number of Test matches Pakistan has now played (including the aforementioned Test against Windies). Among the top eight Test playing nations, Pakistan is seventh in the total number of Test played.

400th Test match cake cutting with journalists pic.twitter.com/TTB2WRZvQP
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) October 13, 2016

England in on top with 976 outings followed by Australia (791), West Indies (518), India (502), New Zealand (415) and South Africa (402). Only Sri Lanka (251) has played less number of Tests than Pakistan.

Pakistan 400th Test ceremony pic.twitter.com/tHkT4cqJxi
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) October 13, 2016

However, in the win/loss ratio column, Pakistan (1.13) is third with Australia (1.76) and England (1.23) on number one and number two positions respectively.