Stalwarts Younis and Misbah punish Windies

Younis Khan made his 33rd Test century and Misbah-ul-Haq was closing in on three figures as Pakistan dominated day one of the second match of the series against West Indies in Abu Dhabi on Friday.

Published : Oct 21, 2016 21:02 IST

Pakistan batsmen Younis Khan and Misbah-ul-Haq.
Pakistan batsmen Younis Khan and Misbah-ul-Haq.
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Pakistan batsmen Younis Khan and Misbah-ul-Haq.

Younis Khan made his 33rd Test century and Misbah-ul-Haq was closing in on three figures as Pakistan dominated day one of the second match of the series against West Indies in Abu Dhabi on Friday.

> Scorecard and ball-by-ball details

Veteran batsman Younis missed Pakistan's victory in a thrilling first Test in Dubai due to illness, but followed up the 218 he scored in his previous international against England by scoring a fine 127 at Sheikh Zayed Stadium.

Younis, dropped on 83, has reached three figures in four of his last first innings in Abu Dhabi, but the 38-year-old was out just before stumps were drawn due to bad light to end a stand of 175 with captain Misbah (90 not out) and leave Pakistan in command at 304-4.

Misbah was also put down just after bringing up his half-century as he and fellow stalwart Younis broke the partnership record for most Test runs by a Pakistan pair, with 3143 between them.

 

Asad Shafiq made a classy 68, with Shannon Gabriel (2-43) the pick of the Windies bowlers as the tourists toiled in a bid to avoid defeat in the three-match series.

Dubai triple centurion Azhar Ali fell without scoring when he played on to a delivery from paceman Gabriel and Pakistan were reduced to 42-2 when leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo generated sharp turn to clean up Sami Aslam (6).

Younis sat out the first Test after being laid low by a bout of dengue fever and was clearly eager to make up for lost time, content to be watchful as Shafiq played more freely and brought up his 16th Test half-century off only 68 balls with a glorious cover drive off Gabriel.

A patient Younis hung in after Shafiq's knock — which featured seven boundaries — ended when he clattered a ball from Gabriel into his stumps.

The evergreen Younis raised the tempo, taking a liking to Roston Chase and slog-sweeping Bishoo, who brought the first Test to life by taking career-best figures of 8-49 in the second innings, over the ropes after passing 50 before he was given an extra life Kraigg Brathwaite spilled a caught and bowled chance.

Misbah attacked Bishoo, launching him for a huge six down the ground and another over midwicket, and raced to 50, with Younis also raising his bat yet again following a stylish cut to the boundary off Chase to reach three figures.

The skipper was dropped behind on 54 by Shai Hope, recalled after Shane Dowrich was injured in the warm-up, after Gabriel drew an edge and there was more frustration for the bowler when he was convinced Younis was caught behind, but a not out decision was upheld.

Pakistan, who replaced Mohammad Amir and Wahab Riaz with Rahat Ali and Zulfiqar Babar, lost Younis when he was caught in the deep off what proved to the final ball of an otherwise frustrating day for the Windies.

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