Abu Dhabi Test drawn after nail-biting hour on day 5

ABU DHABI: The first test between hosts Pakistan and England ended in a disappointing draw due to bad light after a nail-biting hour of tussle between the two side here on Saturday.

England needed 25 runs in less than eight overs with six wickets in hands when umpires decided to call it a day.

The visitors were chasing down a meek target of 99 runs in 22 overs after Pakistan were 173 all out in their second innings earlier in the day.

Pakistan started the attack with spinners and succeeded in getting four quick wickets as England’s re-shuffled batting line-up tried to turn the Test into a Twenty20 with about an hour’s play remaining.

Abu Dhabi’s benign pitch had tormented both teams’ bowlers in the first four days of play, but belatedly came to life on the last day.

Leg-spinner Adil Rashid inspired the dramatic turnaround with 5-64 while fellow spinner Moeen Ali and paceman James Anderson grabbed two wickets apiece as Pakistan collapsed from 139-4 to 173 all out.

In the morning, England declared on 598 for nine, 75 runs ahead.

Dubai will host the second Test (October 22-26) and Sharjah the third from November 1.

Brief Scores: Pakistan 523-8 dec and 173; England 598-9 dec and 74-4–Agencies/Geo