England’s Alastair Cook shakes hands with Pakistan’s Misbah-ul-Haq at the end – Action Images via Reuters

Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq paid tribute to his batsmen after beating England by 178 runs in the second test on Monday.

The win put the ‘hosts’ 1-0 up in the three-match series and ensured they kept up their record of never having lost a series in their adopted home of the United Arab Emirates.

Having won the toss and elected to bat, Pakistan were always in control in Dubai, even allowing for England’s late belligerence.

Younus Khan (56 and 118), Misbah (102 and 87) and Asad Shafiq (83 and 79), batting at four, five and six respectively, produced polished displays while openers Mohammad Hafeez and Shan Masood scored half-centuries.

“With the way Asad Shafiq is batting, he is getting better and better with every test match,” Misbah told reporters after England were bowled out for 312 on the final day.

“Shan Masood is also there. He has been contributing well. Hafeez played a really good innings. Younus and me scored crucial runs but others are also contributing.”

Those performances mean Azhar Ali may find it tough to break back into the team for the third test in Sharjah that starts on Nov. 1.

Pakistan’s one-day captain was ruled out of the first test with injury and was then unable to get a visa in time for the second after returning home due to a family bereavement.

With a batting average of 48.17 this year after two centuries and two 50s, the selectors face a tricky decision over Azhar Ali.

One downside for Pakistan was Masood dropping three catches at short-leg on the final day that would have ended England’s resistance sooner.

“Shan is trying hard but obviously sometimes it happens that we miss chances,” said Misbah.

Masood’s blunders enabled England to add 119 for the last three wickets before Adil Rashid (61) was last man out when he lofted the ball into the covers with just 39 balls remaining.

“It’s a game of patience and they gave us a tough time and took the game so close,” added Misbah.

“Sometimes, even the last wicket can play for a whole hour or 15 to 20 overs. We know the pressure is going to be on them when close and that’s what happened.

“Rashid, who played really well, made a mistake and we just managed to win,” said Misbah.

Cook laments another bitter finale for England

Alastair Cook rued England’s first-innings collapse after his team came within 39 balls of forcing a draw in the second test against Pakistan on Monday, the second time the tourists have endured a bitter finale.

Last week England were 25 runs from a first-test victory in Abu Dhabi when they were denied by bad light. Dubai was even more cruel as Pakistan laboured to oust the touring side’s lower order with the clock running down.

“To win games of cricket here you have to be absolutely relentless for five days,” captain Cook told reporters after his side were bowled out with just 6.3 overs remaining.

“We have competed with Pakistan for nine and a half days. If you had given us two more overs in Abu Dhabi and two less here it could have been a different story.”

England were 206 for three on the third morning in Dubai but surrendered their last seven wickets for 36 as paceman Wahab Riaz ran riot.

“It is a real frustration,” said Cook. “It happens too often. Full credit to Riaz, he bowled really well, 90mph, reverse swinging, from different angles, with some short stuff thrown in.”

England rallied from 193 for seven after lunch on Monday to 312 all out with Adil Rashid’s maiden test half-century almost saving the game after they were set an improbable 491 to win.

“You always have belief in the team ... but it was a long way back from that third morning and we probably didn’t deserve to get out of jail,” said Cook.

On Sunday, England’s backroom staff denied Cook was nursing an injury despite the captain visibly struggling to run.

He subsequently declared he was toiling with what is thought to be a groin problem.

“It was a bit frustrating yesterday,” said Cook who has played 119 consecutive tests since 2006.

“My body has been pretty good to me over quite a long period of time and it was little bit discomforting yesterday and a concern. It’s a bit better today. It should be fine.”

Cook hinted England could make changes for the final test in Sharjah that starts on Nov. 1.

“When you lose games or people haven’t performed as well as they would have liked you’re going to look at the team,” he said. “We’ve a good squad here and players itching to get on.”

Jos Buttler and Ian Bell are likely to have their starting places scrutinised.