Pakistani batters maintain their composure in the face of a massive total.

RAWALPINDI (AP) — On the third day of the first test on Saturday, captain Babar Azam guided Pakistan to 411-3 at tea after matching the aggressiveness of England batsmen on a lifeless surface.

In England’s first test match in Pakistan in 17 years, Babar became the eighth batsman to get a century on a pitch that has drawn attention for being particularly run-friendly.

Pakistan is 246 runs behind England after the tourists recorded a 657-run total, helped by hundreds from Harry Brook, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, and Ollie Pope.

Babar reached his third test century at Pindi Cricket Stadium while still unbeaten at 106 off 132 balls. Before tea, there were 14 fours and a six.

At 37, Ollie Pope caught rookie lefthander Saud Shakeel on Robinson’s ball, forcing him to leave the game. Before tea, he and Babar put up a 121-run partnership to prevent England from winning the second session.

Imamul Haq and Abdullah Shafique, Pakistan’s openers, earlier scored unprecedented century when Pakistan started on 181-0 before losing their wickets to Leach and Will Jacks.

Azhar Ali (27), who was given a chance after Crawley missed a challenging opportunity to dismiss James Anderson, was eventually caught leg before wicket by Leach when England quickly took the second new ball after 80 overs.

Imam struck 121 off 207 balls during the drew test match against Australia in March at the same location. Imam is a left-handed batsman. Shafique, who played a normal test match-like 114 off 203 balls and was the centurion in the same test against Australia.

After England’s openers Crawley and Duckett hit hundreds in England’s 506-4 on the first day, it was the first time in test history that openers from both teams had scored hundreds in the first innings.

Ramiz Raja, the head of the Pakistan Cricket Board, has even criticised the grassless field as being a poor advertisement for test cricket.