Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq smashed the fastest half-century in Test history as Ausralia’s bowlers received another hammering on Sunday.
Misbah’s side were 3-210, an overall lead of 519, at lunch on day four of the second Test in Abu Dhabi.
Pakistan resumed on Sunday’s fourth day of play at 2-61.
Younis Khan completed a record-breaking two-Test series with a score of 46 in Pakistan’s second innings, before Misbah clubbed 52 not out off 21 deliveries.
Azhar Ali is unbeaten on 72.
Younis has scored 468 runs in the series.
The 36-year-old right-hander was given not out on 29 following an lbw appeal from pace bowler Mitchell Johnson. Australia requested a video review which showed the ball just clipping the leg stump and it was an “umpire’s call” which meant the original decision stood.
Steve Smith trapped Younis lbw with the total on 3-152. But his joy was short-lived as new batsman Misbah-ul-Haq launched three sixes and one four in a 23-run over off the part-time spinner’s bowling.
Substitute fielder Phil Hughes added to Australia’s misery by dropping Azhar at backward point on 68.
Misbah, 40, has hit four fours and four sixes. The 40-year-old has scored 52 in a 58-run stand for the fourth wicket off 5.2 overs.
Pakistan won the first Test of the two-match series by 221 runs in Dubai and skipper Misbah is moving closer to becoming the first man to lead Pakistan to a series win over Australia since 1994.
Wicketkeeper Brad Haddin’s badly bruised shoulder, which is yet to be diagnosed after he landed heavily on it during Pakistan’s first innings, has added to Australia’s pain in the second Test.
Opening batsman David Warner took on the wicketkeeping duties for Sunday’s fourth day of play in place of Haddin, who scored a gutsy 10 in Australia’s first innings and is expected to bat again in the match if required.
Australia were bowled out for 261 on Saturday in reply to Pakistan’s first innings of 6-570 declared.
Two-Test allrounder Mitchell Marsh top-scored with 87 on a flat batting track.
Loose shots from opener David Warner (19) and No.4 Glenn Maxwell (37) contributed to Australia’s batting collapse.
Australia coach Darren Lehmann defended Pakistan’s decision not to enforce the follow on, despite a 309-run lead on the first innings.
“We normally like to bat again and give our bowlers a rest,” Lehmann said.
“They’ve probably done the right thing.
“The challenge for us is to bat a lot better than we did in the first innings.”
FASTEST TEST HALF-CENTURIES
* Pakistan’s Misbah-ul-Haq 21 balls v Australia, Abu Dhabi, 2014
* South Africa’s Jacques Kallis 24 balls v Zimbabwe, Cape Town, 2005 MOST RUNS IN A TWO-TEST SERIES AGAINST AUSTRALIA
* 468 by Pakistan’s Younis Khan (average of 156 in UAE in 2014
* 403 by India’s Sachin Tendulkar (average of 134.33) in India in 2010.
