Younis Khan hit a defiant half-century and Azhar Ali ably assisted him to help Pakistan reach 120-2 at tea on the second day of the third and final Test against England here on Saturday.
Published: Feb 04, 2012, 05:24 PM (IST)
Edited: Feb 04, 2012, 05:24 PM (IST)
Younis Khan plays a shot during his knock of 54 not out © Getty Images
Dubai: Feb 4, 2012
Younis Khan hit a defiant half-century and Azhar Ali ably assisted him to help Pakistan reach 120-2 at tea on the second day of the third and final Test against England here on Saturday.
Younis, Pakistan’s most experienced batsman, held the innings together with youngster Ali as the pair added 92 for an unbroken third wicket stand as bowlers found it hard to penetrate on an eased out Dubai Stadium pitch.
Younis had made a fluent 54 and Ali was on 38 come the interval, as Pakistan increased their lead by 78 runs.
Pakistan, with an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series, lost Taufiq Umar (six) and Mohammad Hafeez (21) in their second innings after England posted 141 for a first-innings lead of 42.
Both Younis and Ali batted with resolve as England failed to make further inroads after dismissing the openers early. Younis has so far hit six boundaries during his 112-ball knock.
Ali, the more cautious, has so far hit a four and a six off 143 balls.
Younis opened up once England captain Andrew Strauss introduced Jonathan Trott, smashing the occasional bowler to square-leg boundary to bring up Pakistan’s 100.
He then heaved Graeme Swann for another boundary and in the next over hit Trott for his sixth boundary to complete a well deserved half-century, his 26th in all Tests.
Earlier Abdul Rehman took 5-40 — his second five-wicket haul after a career-best 6-25 in Pakistan’s 72-run win in the second Test in Abu Dhabi.
Pakistan won the first Test by ten wickets, also in Dubai.
Paceman James Anderson again gave England an early breakthrough, forcing an edge off Umar which Strauss held in front of his knees in the slips.
Hafeez, who hit a six off Monty Panesar, fell leg-before to the left-armer in his next over, leaving Pakistan in trouble at 28-2.
Captain Strauss top-scored with 56 for England before he was stumped by wicketkeeper Adnan Akmal off Rehman. Strauss hit five boundaries during his laborious 150-ball stay at the crease.
Resuming at 104-6, England lost nightwatchman Anderson in the first over of the day when he missed a sharp turning delivery from Rehman and was bowled.
Two overs later, Rehman’s spin partner Saeed Ajmal trapped Stuart Broad (four) and after Strauss’s fall wrapped up the innings when Swann (16) holed out in the deep. Ajmal finished with 3-59.
Brief Scores: Pakistan 99 all-out & 120 for 2 (Younis Khan 54*, Azhar Ali 38*; Monty Panesar 1 for 37) lead England 141 all-out (Andrew Strauss 56, Kevin Pietersen 32; Abdur Rehman 5 for 40, Saeed Ajmal 3 for 59, Umar Gul 2 for 28) by 78 runs.
