Younis Khan struck his third consecutive century as Pakistan continued to look at ease against Australia’s bowlers on the opening day of the second cricket Test.
Australia’s hopes of levelling the two-Test series with victory in Abu Dhabi faded badly after Pakistan won the toss and reached 2-304 at stumps on Thursday.
Younis is unbeaten on 111, having added 208 for the third wicket with Azhar Ali.
The 93-Test veteran Younis hadn’t made a hundred against Australia before this series and now has three in a career tally of 27 which is a Pakistan record.
Overlooked for the one-day series against Australia earlier this month after eight innings without a half-century, the 36-year-old had considered not even making himself available for the Tests.
Younis has hit 10 fours and one six from 155 deliveries while Azhar is unbeaten on 101 from 223 balls.
Offspinner Nathan Lyon removed Ahmed Shehzad (35) leg-before at 1-57 and fellow opener Mohammad Hafeez (45) was caught behind off Mitchell Johnson’s bowling with the score on 96.
Going to tea at 2-158, Pakistan put on another 146 without loss in the third session.
Australia made two bold moves before play, recalling offspinning allrounder Glenn Maxwell for struggling No.3 batsman Alex Doolan, while left-arm quick Mitchell Starc replaced spinner Steve O’Keefe.
Starc (0-37 off 11 overs) has some work ahead of him to prove the value of his selection ahead of the unlucky O’Keefe, while Maxwell (0-36 off eight) also failed to take a wicket on Thursday.
After the disappointment of losing the toss, Australia captain Michael Clarke was forced to employ some creative field settings in a bid to break through Pakistan’s top-order batting.
Johnson was fielding in a strange position at deep, straight mid-off to paceman Peter Siddle’s bowling and was standing next to Siddle when the bowler started his run-up.
Azhar pulled away from his batting stance in the final over before lunch and it appeared Johnson was told to stand still and not walk in with the bowler as he was in the batsman’s line of sight.
Short-leg fieldsman Steve Smith and first-slipper David Warner both missed half-chances from Ali’s bat on 34 and 46, respectively.
Leading cricket statistician Ric Finlay said on Twitter England’s first-innings total of 7-903 against Australia at The Oval in 1938, the second-highest in Test history, could be under threat.
Australia bowled only 88 overs despite going 25 minutes beyond the scheduled finish time of 5pm before bad light intervened.
The Pakistanis are chasing their first Test-series win over Australia since 1994.
In five previous Tests at Abu Dhabi, Pakistan have won twice and drawn three times.
THREE CONSECUTIVE TEST HUNDREDS AGAINST AUSTRALIA
* England’s Herb Sutcliffe 59, 115, 176, 127 in Sydney and Melb, Dec/Jan 1924-25
* Pakistan’s Younis Khan 106 and 103 not out, 111 not out** in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, Oct 2014
** innings to resume on Friday.
