Cook’s ton leads England fightback

England captain Alastair Cook knocked a solid hundred to lead England’s fightback on the third day of the first Test against Pakistan in Abu Dhabi on Thursday.

Cook continued to bat without much problem as he reached 116 to take his team to 197 for one at tea with Ian Bell on 31 as the pair thwart Pakistan’s pace-cum-spin attack on a Sheikh Zayed Stadium pitch.

England still <g data-gr-id="27">trail</g> Pakistan’s mammoth first innings total of 523 for eight by 326 runs.

Cook drove left-arm fast bowler Wahab Riaz for an exquisite cover drive for his tenth boundary to complete his 28th century in Tests, raising his bat in celebration.

When on 93 the England skipper also completed 1,000 runs in 11th Test this year, only the second batsman to reach 1,000 runs in 2015 behind team-mate Joe Root.

He has so far hit 11 boundaries during his 222-ball stay at the wicket.

Pakistan thought they had England skipper leg-before when he failed to connect a sweep off left-arm spinner Zulfiqar <g data-gr-id="33">Babar</g> but Australian umpire Paul Reiffel’s decision of not out was upheld on review.

Earlier, Cook and Moeen Ali resumed the day at 56-0, bringing up the century stand in the first hour of play as Pakistan attacked through <g data-gr-id="29">pace</g> at one end and spin from the other.

England’s last century stand came against New Zealand at Leeds earlier this year with Cook and now discarded Adam Lyth posting 177.

But at 116, left-hander Ali edged an outgoing delivery from paceman Imran Khan to wicket-keeper Sarfraz Ahmed who took a low catch to his left.

Bell survived some anxious moments at the crease with left-armer Zulfiqar Babar started to turn the ball on a pitch which did not assist England spinners on the first two days.

Babar was unlucky not to have Bell four overs before the interval when close-in fielder Shan Masood failed to hold on to an edge at silly point. Bell, who survived some anxious moments before lunch, looked settled with three boundaries in his 104-ball knock.