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28 March 2024

Pakistan vs Sri Lanka 1st Test in Abu Dhabi, Day 2: Younis, Misbah tons put Pakistan in control

Published
By Cricket Correspondent

Experienced Pakistan batsmen Younus Khan and Misbah-ul-Haq both scored centuries to put their team firmly in control of the opening Test against Sri Lanka in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday.

The pair added 218 runs for the fourth wicket as Pakistan reached 327 for four at the close of play on the second day with a lead of 123.

Younus (136) dominated the partnership and the hapless Sri Lankan bowlers to complete his 23rd Test hundred with a cover-driven four off left-arm spinner Rangana Herath.

The stylish right-hander, 36, hit 19 fours and a six before being bowled by paceman Shaminda Eranga.

Captain Misbah went into a shell as he neared his fifth Test hundred but reached the mark in 241 deliveries with a single off Sachithra Senanayake.

The 39-year-old was unbeaten on 105, including 13 fours, at stumps. Asad Shafiq (12) was the other not out batsman at the crease.

Resuming on 46 for one wicket, Pakistan lost Mohammad Hafeez (11) early when the right-hander was caught by a diving Kaushal Silva at short cover off paceman Suranga Lakmal.

Eranga then forced debutant Ahmed Shehzad (38) to miscue a pull shot straight to Dimuth Karunaratne at square leg to reduce Pakistan to 83 for three.

But Sri Lanka were denied any further success till late in the final session as both the faster bowlers and the spinners struggled to extract anything from the docile wicket.

Herath and off-spinner Senanayake bowled 49 overs between them out of the 109 in the innings but rarely troubled the Pakistan batsmen.

EVENING SESSION

Solid centuries by Younis Khan (136) and Misbah ul Haq (105 not out) lifted Pakistan to 327-4 in 109 overs at close in their first innings on day two of the first Test at Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday.

The duo figured in a 218-run stand for the fourth wicket during which they overhauled Sri Lanka's first innings total of 204.

Pakistan enjoy a lead of 123 with six wickets in hand as Sri Lanka's bowlers were made to toil on a warm New Year's Day in the UAE capital.

Younis slammed his 23rd Test century and sixth against Sri Lanka during his almost six-hour occupation at the middle cracking 13 fours and a six.

Misbah, dropped on 69 by Mahela, completed his fifth Test century which has 13 boundaries contained boundaries. Shafiq is with him on 12.

Eranga claimed two for 63 while Lakmal snared one for 84.

Shafiq tickles a bouncer from Eranga to fine leg for a boundary. Pak 326-4 in 108 overs.

The partnership for the fourth wicket between Younis and Misbah yielded 218 runs.

Sri Lanka finally get a breakthrough in the first over after drinks interval during the final session as Eranga knocks backs the off stump of Younis. Pakistan 301-4 in 95 overs.    

Younis Khan b Eranga 136 (198b 19x4 1x6)

Sri Lanka took the second new ball immediately it was due but failed to separate the fourth wicket pair of Younis and Misbah who added a further 48 runs in 15 overs. Pak 299-3 in 94 overs.

Misbah pulls Herath to midwicket for a boundary and moves to 90 with a single. Pak 299-3 in 94 overs.

Younis is flaying the Sri Lanka bowlers getting a couple of boundaries through the covers and third mana off Mathews. Pak 293-3 in 93 overs.

Younis is in cracking form punching Eranga through the covers for the first boundary after the tea interval. Pak 260-3 in 84 overs.

Misbah survives a confident leg before appeal off Lakmal on 76 with replays suggesting it would have clipped leg stump but Sri Lanka opted not to review it. Pak 254-3 in 83 overs.

Sri Lanka have taken the second new ball immediately with Lakmal and Eranga attacking with Pakistan 251-3 in 80 overs.

Sri Lanka open with a couple of maiden overs from Senanayake and Lakmal. Pak 251-3 in 81 overs.

AFTERNOON SESSION

Sri Lanka were made to toil on a hot afternoon session on New Year's as Younis Khan and Misbah ul Haq piled on the runs during an unbroken 168-run stand for the fourth wicket on second day of the first Test at Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday.

Pakistan went in for team at 251-3 in 79 over, enjoying a lead of 47, with Younis completing his 23rd Test century and sixth against Sri Lanka.

Younis was unbeaten on 103 off 154 balls having hit 13 fours and a six while Misbah was with him on 74 off 164 balls having cracked 10 fours.

Misbah was let off on 69 when Mahela failed to latch on a sharp chance with Pakistan on 234-3 in the 71st over.

Left arm spinner Herath bowled a nagging line and length having figures of 23-8-54-0 so far while Senanayake went for 61 in 15 overs.

Younis stepped up the tempo of the innings with his second fifty coming off just 47 balls and overhauling Sri Lanka's total of 204 by smacking Herath over long-on for the first six of the match followed by a boundary though Pakistan added only 71 runs in 18 overs during the afternoon session.

Younis drives Herath through the covers for his 13th boundary to complete his 23rd Test century. Pak 251-5 in 77 overs.

His sixth century against Sri Lanka came off 147 balls and also contained a six.

Younis is inching his way to another century against Sri Lanka. Pak 245-3 in 76 overs.

Younis has quietly moved into the 90s. Pak 240-3 in 72 overs.

Misbah gets a reprieve on on 69 with Mahela running from first slip failing to latch onto a chance after the Pakistan skipper top edges a sweep shot. Pak 234-3 in 70.2 overs.

Younis smashes Senanayake over the square leg umpire for another boundary. Pak 233-3 in 70 overs.

Younis dances down the track and hammers Herath over long-on for the first six of the match to overhaul Sri Lanka's total and followed it up with a boundary to midwicket. Pak 211-3 in 65 overs.

Herath bowls a maiden but Pakistan's fourth wicket pair of Younis and Misbah completed half centuries as they added a further 59 runs in 15 overs during the first hour after lunch. Pak 180-3 in 61 overs. 

Misbah completes his 23rd Test half century by clipping Senanayake for a single. It also came off 100 balls and contained nine boundaries. Pak 180-3 in 60 overs.

Younis races to his 28th Test half century cracking a couple of boundaries off Lakmal. It came off 100 balls and contained nine boundaries. Pak 175-3 in 59 overs.

Misbah (48) survives a confident appeal for a leg before off Herath with Sri Lanka being unsuccessful with the decision review with the television umpire after much deliberation deeming that the batsman got an inside edge. Pak 165-3 in 58 overs.

Misbah cracks consecutive boundaries off Lakmal edging through the slip cordon to third man as Pakistan turn it on. Pak 165-3 in 56 overs.

Herath comes into the attack but there is no respite for Sri Lanka as Younis cuts him to the point boundary. Pak 154-2 in 54 overs.

Misbah finds the gap on the offside again with a lovely cover drive to bring up the 150 of the innings in the 53rd over.

Younis sweeps Senanayake to square leg for his sixth boundary. Pak 146-3 in 52 overs.

Pakistan are playing the Sri Lanka bowlers with ease with Misbah getting his sixth boundary with a scorching drive to midwicket. Pak 140-3 in 50 overs.

Younis gets another boundary with an uppish drive off eranga. Pak 133-3 in 49 overs.

Younis hits the first boundary after lunch with a classic off drive to long-off. Pak 125-3 in 47 overs.

MORNING SESSION

Misbah smacks spinner Senanayake through extra cover for his fifth boundary as Pakistan take lunch at 121-3 in 46 overs in reply to Sri Lanka's first innings total of 204.

The morning session belonged to Sri Lanka who dismissed the overnight pair of Hafeez and Shehzad in quick succession as Pakistan added 75 in 27.5 overs resuming from their overnight total of 46-1 in 18.1 overs.

Misbah is unbeaten on 24 off 60 balls while Younis Khan is with him on 23 having also faced 60 balls and hit three boundaries.

Pakistan trail by 83 runs with seven wickets in hand after Sri Lanka put them on the back foot by grabbing two wickets in the first hour of play.

A brilliant catch by Kaushal Silva at short cover accounted for Hafeez (11) in the fourth over of the morning.

Shehzad (38) fell two overs later with Eranga inducing a rush of blood from the debutant who pulled a bouncer straight to Karunaratne at backward square leg.

Shehzad hit three boundaries during his knock facing 83 balls.

Pakistan's two most experienced batsmen Younis Khan and Misbah resisted the Sri Lanka attack having added 24 runs in 8.2 overs.

Misbah slams Eranga through extra cover for another boundary. Pak 116-3 in 45 overs.

Lakmal is leaking runs with Misbah getting another boundary with a classic straight drive. Pak 108-3 in 43 overs.

Misbah drives Lakmal through the covers for a much needed boundary for Pakistan to bring up the 100 of the innings in the 41st over.

Younis flicks Mathews to midwicket for another boundary. Pak 93-3 in 34 overs.

Misbah pushes Lakmal to midwicket for his first boundary. Pak 89-3 in 33 overs.

Sri Lanka have put Pakistan on the backfoot in the first hour of play by taking two wickets for 37 runs in 12.1 overs. Pak 83-3 in 31 overs.

Shehzad virtually throws his wicket away pulling a short ball from Eranga straight to Karunaratne at backward square leg. Pak 83-2 in 30.2 overs.    

Ahmed Shehzad c Karunaratne b Eranga 38 (83b 3x4 0x6)

Younis edges Mathews through the slip cordon for another boundary. Pak 80-2 in 28 overs.

Younis hits his first boundary by steering Lakmal to third man. Pak 65-2 in 24 overs.

Kaushal takes a stunning catch at short cover point to dismiss the in-form Hafeez. Pak 59-2 in 22 overs.

Mohammad Hafeez c Silva b Lakmal 11 (18b 2x4 0x6)

Hafeez hits another boundary off Lakmal straight down the ground.

Hafeez hits the first boundary of the morning despatching Lakmal down the ground with a lovely carpet drive. Pak 53-1 in 20 overs.

Pakistan resume day two on 46-1 in their first innings replying to Sri Lanka's 204 in the first Test at Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday.