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Pakistan vs West Indies, 2nd Test: Younis Khan, Misbah-ul-Haq take hosts’ to commanding position

Younis Khan completed 31st Test fifty of his career against West Indies as he took Pakistan to a comfortable position at the end of the second session

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Younis Khan is playing an anchor role for Pakistan © AFP

Pakistan are in a comfortable position at the end of the second session of the second Test match against West Indies which is being played at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi. Pakistan have reached a total of 205 for the loss of 3 wickets with Younis Khan and his captain Misbah-ul-Haq at the crease. Pakistan did lose well-settled Asad Shafiq for an individual score of 68. Other the Shafiq’s wicket, West Indian bowling unit looked very bland in front of the experienced due of Misbah and Younus. Both have batted excellently in the second innings as they took their team to a respectable position at the end of the second session.   FULL CRICKET SCORECARD: Pakistan vs West Indies, 2nd Test at Abu Dhabi

Pakistan came out to play in the second innings with 95 runs on the board with the loss of two wickets, which were their openers, Azhar Ali and Sami Aslam. But 87 runs stand from 26.4 overs between Asad Shafiq and veteran batsman Younus Khan who had walked after the fall of the second wicket ensured that Pakistan reached a comfortable total. Pakistan were reduced to 42 for the loss of 2 wickets, but these two batted responsibly and took their team out of the spot of bother. Shafiq also completed his half-century which was also the 15th half-century of his career. In the second innings, both started to bat the same way they had paused in the first session. But it was completely against the run of play that Shafiq lost his wicket against Shannon Gabriel.

Gabriel bowled a good length delivery pitching outside off, the ball was there to be cut but Shafiq didn’t angle his bat correctly. He got stuck somewhere with a straight bat and a 90-degree cut eventually leading to the taking the inside edge and clattering onto the stumps. This wicket came in at a very good time for West Indies as Shafiq and Younus looked all set to go for a big total. Pakistan were at the score of 129 for the loss of three wickets when Shafiq departed. It was time for the Pakistani skipper Misbah to walk in and he also had the perfect company at the other end.

Misbah did take some time initially to settle down as the West Indies pace attack was seeming lethal. Younus on the other end of the wicket got to his 30th career’s half-century a few balls after the fall of Shafiq’s wicket. After Misbah got the knack of the bowling from the visitors camp he looked all but comfortable. Both these started scoring runs freely while the visitors tried various changes in their bowling to induce some action in the game. But all these variations and changes were turning futile in front of these two.

Devendra Bishoo was called in by West Indian skipper hoping to get some success and also if possible some wicket. But things turned upside down when both of them went after Bishoo as they went on to hit some   glorious sixes into the stands. Having suffered so much damage already Bishoo was taken off the attack quickly and the pace attack was again resumed from both then ends. But what looked very surprising was, that even though the Pakistan was scoring runs very easily thanks to Younus Khan and Misbah’s batting, Holder opted to go in for closed-in fielders in the middle overs of the second session. Having close in fielders helped the Pakistani batsmen to play over them utilising the place they were receiving from the West Indian pace attack.

This has been the problem for West Indies since the first Test match which was the day-night Test match played with pink-ball. Kraigg Brathwaite had the best opportunity send Younus back to the dressing room in the last over before the end of the second session as Younis had drilled the ball back to the bowler who had bowled a flighted delivery outside off. The ball went to the knee length of the bowler who spilt it the very moment. It was a sheer moment of luck for Younis or else he would have been watching the third session from the dressing room.

Both Younis and Misbah have put up a partnership of 76 runs from 21.0 overs and are looking all set to go for a big one by the end of the Day One if West Indies don’t pull off something extraordinary. Yes, that is what they will need to get either of this batsmen out.

As of now, Pakistan have a complete grip on the game and nothing seems to be stopping this. With the last session all remaining to be played, what remains ti be seen is if Younis can get to his century, which will also be his 33rd Test hundred and also back-to-back hundred, with the last one being against England at Oval, where he scored a double-century.

Brief Scores:

Pakistan 205 for 3 (Younis Khan 84*, Asad Shafiq 68*; Shannon Gabriel 2 for 49) vs West Indies

(Rohan A. Sawant is a reporter for CricketCountry. He loves Football, Cricket and is a die-hard Arsenal fan. He is an avid writer and has some knowledge about cricket and so he is trying his best to pour with his Laptop as he finds writing with pen and paper very clumsy. You can follow him on Twitter @iswandering)

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