Experienced batsman Younis Khan proved his class with a superb hundred to put Pakistan in a good position on the second day of the third and final Test against England on Saturday.
The 34-year-old right-hander scored an unbeaten 115 to repair the Pakistan innings after early wobbles with youngster Azhar Ali (75 not out) through an unbroken third wicket stand of 194 to take their team to 2-222 at stumps in Dubai.
Pakistan, who conceded a 42-run lead in the first innings after England made 141, now lead by 180 runs with eight wickets intact.
England’s bowlers, who wrecked Pakistan for 99 in the first innings, looked helpless on Saturday on a pitch that delivered 16 wickets on the first day.
Younis, who had only totalled 66 runs in his past four innings, notched his 20th Test hundred – the first from either side in the series – with a sweep shot off left-arm spinner Monty Panesar for two, reaching the milestone off 166-balls.
Younis has so far hit 11 boundaries and a six.
Ali, who often praised Younis’s support for youngsters, batted with caution during his 14th half-century. He has so far hit 11 boundaries and six.
Pakistan had lost openers Taufiq Umar (six) and Mohammad Hafeez (21) in another disastrous start, leaving them 2-30 at lunch and in danger of another collapse.
But after lunch, 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.
They took Pakistan to 2-120 at tea and continued to dominate even after England took the second new ball at 2-216.
Younis said the failure in the first innings motivated him: “I was very angry at how I got out in the first innings, so it was a motivation and when I went to bat I wanted to do something which no one had done in the series – score a hundred.”
England opener Alastair Cook praised Younis and Ali.
“Certainly the characteristic of the pitch has changed,” said Cook. “It’s easy to judge but full credit to the way they batted, especially Younis took the game to us.”
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.
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 6-104, 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.
