Cricket: Matt Prior and Stuart Broad's century stand saved England from embarrassment on day one of the third npower Test against Pakistan, but their 233 all out was still well below par. The hosts were listing at 94 for seven when the pair came together, with debutant Wahab Riaz (five for 63) running riot, and proceeded to add 119 - a record eighth-wicket stand against Pakistan.
Prior finished unbeaten on 84, while Broad added 48.
England's plight began soon after Andrew Strauss won the toss and opted to bat, with Alastair Cook's lean spell continuing in the second over of the day.
The horribly out-of-sorts opener started the rot, lasting just seven unconvincing balls before feathering Mohammad Asif to the recalled Kamran Akmal to go for six.
England have defended their vice-captain stoutly during his lean patch but, after 106 runs in eight innings this summer, he will need a score in the second innings if their patience is to last much longer.
Strauss was lucky not to follow Cook back to the pavilion for just two when he was rapped on the pad by Asif, who declined to refer a debatable not out decision. Replays subsequently suggested the ball was destined for leg stump.
Jonathan Trott had fewer difficulties getting started, crashing his first ball to the cover boundary, and leaving well thereafter.
Strauss welcomed Riaz to Test cricket with two fours in his first over but the left-armer took his revenge on his next visit, Strauss given out on review after Tony Hill missed a big edge.
Riaz struck again with the first ball of his fourth over, slanting one across Trott who flashed to the diving Yasir Hameed at slip.
Pakistan's catching has been shoddy at times in this series but Hameed's athletic effort was from the top drawer.
Paul Collingwood (five) made it 47 for four when he chopped Mohammad Aamer on to his stumps with ill-judged stroke and Kevin Pietersen made only six in a troubled 29-ball stay before Riaz struck again.
The lunch interval did little to raise England's performance, Eoin Morgan fending Riaz to Akmal without adding to his score of 17.
It was Akmal's fourth catch of the day, just one Test after being ousted for his erratic displays with the gloves.
His brother Umar got in on the act soon after, holding Graeme Swann in the cordon off Asif as England lurched to 94 for seven.
Prior was doing his best to improve things, a smattering of crunching drives showing the way forward, while Broad batted aggressively in support.
Pakistan turned to spin for the first time midway through the afternoon session and Broad swept Saeed Ajmal confidently from the off.
The eighth-wicket pair brought up their 50 at a run a ball, with Prior's calmness and Broad's fearlessness a lesson to their colleagues.
Broad flashed wildly at times but he rode his luck to find the boundary six times before the tea break, while Prior punished anything loose.
Prior moved to 50 when he flayed his 92nd ball over gully and brought up the 200 with a crisp driven four off Asif.
Broad slowed as he approached his half-century and was eventually trapped lbw for 48 by Riaz, who celebrated his five-wicket haul with vigour.
James Anderson came and went for a four-ball duck as Asif swung one back at him to win another leg before verdict.
Asif conceded four overthrows when he attempted to catch Prior out of his ground with a return throw, the ball cannoning off the batsman's leg on the way to the ropes.
Broad, fined half his match fee last time out for hurling the ball in Zulqarnain Haider's direction, was no doubt an interested spectator.
Prior was reprieved when Mohammad Yousuf dropped the simplest of catches at cover but Ajmal spared the returning veteran's blushes by removing Steven Finn with his next delivery.