Misbah and Shafiq come to Pakistan's rescue

England's fightback was spot-on as they restricted Pakistan to 256 for seven to grab the initiative on day one of the second Test at the Zayed International Cricket Stadium here yesterday. However, Pakistan skipper Misbah-ul-Haq ensured a decent score for his spinners to defend when he first starred in a century partnership with Asad Shafiq (58) and then remained unbeaten on 83 to leave England ruing their dropped catches, including one when he was on 30. Stuart Broad and Graeme Swann picked up three wickets apiece, while Monty Panesar chipped in with one, to share the bowling honours for England. On an eventful opening morning, England skipper Andrew Strauss lost the services of his fast bowler Chris Tremlett and then lost what appeared to be a crucial toss. With the inclusion of Panesar for the first time since playing in the first Ashes Test in Cardiff in 2009, England were playing two spinners in their four-man bowling attack for the first time since December 2003, but that move proved rewarding as the first two wickets fell to the spinners after Pakistan had reached 50 without loss. Swann got rid of Tawfiq Umar (16), with the Pakistani batsman offering no stroke to a ball that rammed into his off stump, and soon enough at the other end Panesar made up for a dropped chance off his own bowling when he found the gap between bat and pad to bowl Mohammad Hafeez (31). Lively spell The pitch, which was expected to offer no help to the bowlers, did turn in the opening session and Strauss bowled Panesar non-stop from one end even after lunch, but it was a lively spell by Broad in the afternoon that pushed Pakistan on to the back foot. Younus Khan and Azhar Ali looked to be settling down when Broad sent Khan's off-stump cart-wheeling after the veteran had scored 24. From 98 for three it became 103 for four as Ali also had his off-stump uprooted and England's spirits began to soar after that damning defeat in the first Test. That brought Misbah and Shafiq together and England knew that the Pakistani skipper was the one they had to gun for. But, despite the pressure situation, Misbah surprised all by lifting Panesar twice in successive balls over the long-off fence. And Shafiq also did so against Panesar and the swelling band of Pakistani fans had something to cheer. The pair settled down and Pakistan did not lose any more wickets until tea despite some disciplined bowling, though Misbah was dropped by James Anderson off Panesar. scoreboard Pakistan 1st innings -    Mohammad Hafeez b Panesar31 -    Taufiq Umar b Swann 16 -    Azhar Ali b Broad 24 -    Younis Khan b Broad 24 -    Misbah-ul Haq not out 83 -    Asad Shafiq lbw b Swann 58 -    Adnan Akmal lbw b Broad 9 -    Abdul Rehman b Swann 0 -    Saeed Ajmal not out 0 Extras: (b8, lb1, nb2) 11 Total: (for seven wkts) 256 Fall of wickets: 1-51 (Umar), 2-61 (Hafeez), 3-98 (Younis), 4-103 (Ali), 5-203 (Shafiq), 6-216 (Adnan), 7-243 (Rehman) Bowling: Anderson 18-5-45-0 (nb1), Broad 23-3-47-3 (nb1), Panesar 33-9-91-1, Swann 18-2-52-3, Trott 2-0-12-0 Overs: 94 Toss: Pakistan Umpires: Steve Davis (AUS) and Bruce Oxenford (AUS) TV umpire: Billy Bowden (NZL) Match referee: Javagal Srinath (IND)