Pakistan built on a strong start from openers Mohammad Hafeez and Taufeeq Umar to take a 96-run first-innings lead with three wickets in hand after the second day of the opening Test against England yesterday.
Openers Hafeez (88) and Umar (58) shared a 114-run stand and captain Misbah-ul-Haq struck a patient 52 as Pakistan reached 288 for seven, after bowling England out for 192 on the opening day at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
Adnan Akmal was unbeaten on 24 at stumps.
Resuming on 42 for no loss, the right-left combination of Hafeez and Umar thrived on a placid track.
Umar hit Chris Tremlett for two boundaries in the same over on his way to a 13th half-century and Hafeez took a single off the same bowler to score his seventh 50.
Desperate for a breakthrough, England captain Andrew Strauss brought Stuart Broad back into the attack and the lanky bowler, from around the wicket, pegged back Umar’s off-stump.
Broad returned to remove Azhar Ali (1), who poked outside off-stump to depart caught behind.
Hafeez looked good for his fifth Test century, but paid the price for playing a premeditated sweep off Graeme Swann to completely miss the line. He departed after a measured 164-ball knock that included 11 fours and a six.
Younus Khan (37) appeared to have settled in for a long stay, but another clever bowling change by Strauss sent him back.
With the former Pakistan skipper looking comfortable against pace and spin, Strauss tossed the ball to occasional bowler Jonathan Trott and the medium pacer trapped Younus LBW, only his third Test victim.
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