Moeen Ali gives England reason to be cheerful

Shafiq (109) was one of three Pakistan batsmen dropped by England before lunch, his perhaps the toughest of the chances – put down by James Anderson at third slip while on seven.

Broad, in particular, made it his mission to send Yasir on his way, greeting him with a first-ball snorter that looped into no-man’s land at cover off a leading edge, before beating him three balls in a row in his fourth over of the morning – a big inducker that flicked the pad through to the keeper, following by two fizzing lifters that burst past his outside edge.

Watch a pick of the action from the second day of the fourth Test between England and Pakistan at The Oval.

Pakistan, bidding to square the series 2-2 after England’s victory at Edgbaston last week, had a foothold at least in reply to 328 all out.

Coming in at 52-2 after nightwatchman Yasir Shah gloved a sweep off Moeen Ali to wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow, Shafiq capitalised on occasional slices of fortune to make his ninth Test century.

Pakistan centurion Asad Shafiq on TMS: “I’m really thankful that I’m playing in this era with Younus”.

Shafiq, dropped on seven, had twice been out for nought during England’s 141-run win in the third Test at Edgbaston last week. But having done his duty by getting through the first hour, Yasir fell for 26 when he nicked Steven Finn to second slip Joe Root.

Anderson almost had Shafiq caught behind on 99 as he chased a wide delivery, before a nudge to mid-on brought up three figures and Younis also attacked Moeen, with a glorious straight six the highlight of the veteran’s classy knock as he played himself back into form.

Finn spilled a straightforward caught and bowled chance off Azhar Ali but the batsman survived and advanced to 36 not out at the interval with Asad Shafiq, also dropped by James Anderson in the slips off Woakes, on 24.

Shafiq, however, put the memories of a pair from Edgbaston behind him in style.

With blue and sunny skies, allied to a good pitch, offering some of the best batting conditions of the series, it was a miss England could ill afford.

Azhar Ali seemed to be in control during his innings but his stay at the crease was cut-short after he was dismissed for 49 runs.

His innings was all the more poignant as flags above The Oval pavilion were flying at half-mast in honour of Pakistan legend Hanif Mohammad, who died aged 81 on Thursday.

It took a special moment to break the partnership, Shafiq climbing into a pull off Finn only to be brilliantly caught by Stuart Broad at mid-wicket.

Unlike previous Pakistan hundreds this season, Shafiq opted against celebrating with a flamboyant press-up routine – a tribute to the military staff who had helped the squad get fit during a pre-tour boot camp.