ALASTAIR Cook batted for an English Test record of almost 14 hours before falling short of his first triple century against Pakistan.

The Essex star and England captain steered England towards near certain stalemate in the first Test against Pakistan at the Zayed Cricket Stadium.

Cook's triumph of concentration extended to almost 14 hours, the longest innings by any Englishman and third of all time globally, as his team reached stumps on day four with a 46-run lead on 569 for eight.

After stands of 141 with Joe Root (85) and then 91 with Ben Stokes (57), the captain had a monumental 263 to his own account when he was finally out after 836 minutes at the crease to the 528th ball he faced.

It was classic, no-frills Cook in these most attritional of conditions - memorable for his evident inexhaustibility and tenacity in stamina-sapping extreme heat rather than any of the 18 boundaries he accumulated.

It was a shock when he did not join further elite company by posting his first triple century, only five compatriots having achieved that feat - the last his long-time Essex and England mentor and personal coach Graham Gooch.

There was a touch of controversy to his dismissal too when, on video replay after he had mistimed a sweep at Shoaib Malik to square-leg, it transpired the off-spinner initially overstepped the front crease.

He therefore appeared to have struck with a no-ball - even though his foot slipped back behind the line afterwards.