Azhar’s Heroics Give Pakistan the Edge at Oval
Pakistan’s top order batsmen finally made a worthwhile contribution as the tourists took the honours on an absorbing second day’s play in their third test against England being played at the Oval in London.
Resuming at the overnight score of 48/1 in reply to England’s first innings total of 233 the Pakistani batsmen crossed the 300 run mark for the first time in the series led by an outstanding unbeaten 92 by Azhar Ali and a stylish 56 by the veteran Mohammad Yousuf.
Pakistan posted 308 runs in their first innings taking a handy 76 run lead over the hosts which looked even more worthy as left arm quick Mohammad Aamer removed English captain Andrew Strauss before stumps to leave England in a spot of bother at 6/1 when stumps were drawn for the day.
The tourists started the day’s play disastrously when their most assured opener in the series thus far, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Yasir-Hameed-c2811, perished to the second ball of the day that he edged through to the wicket-keeper Matt Prior off Steven Finn, the right hander failed to add any run to his overnight score of 36.
His departure brought to the crease the captain of Pakistan, Salman Butt who had endured a miserable run in the first two tests of the series.
The left-hander came out in an adventurous mood looking content on hitting his way out of his lean trot; however his ambitions were cut short by a sharp catch taken on the second attempt by Prior of Swann.
Butt failed to capitalise on a chance presented to him by Eoin Morgan at point off James Anderson and perished for a 24 ball 17 that included three fours.
Mohammad Yousuf than steadied the ship in a useful stand with the night watchman Wahab Riaz who looked defiant in his stay and played an extremely important role in the morning session where he frustrated the bowlers with his obdurate defence and unorthodox hitting.
The debutant who claimed 5 wickets on day one continued his fairy tale, scoring 27 runs off 75 balls.
His vigil ended when he fell lbw to Swann on the stroke of lunch interval leaving http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755 wobbling at 111/4.
After the lunch interval the seasoned Mohammad Yousuf who was making a comeback to international cricket after a self imposed retirement eased into his usual delightful run making ways.
The right hander who has 24 test hundreds under his belt, stroked some delightful boundaries in his vital 69 run stand for the fifth wicket with Azhar Ali.
Yousuf fell shortly after completing his 50; his innings ended when he offered a return catch to Swann, during his knock he faced 108 balls and struck 8 fours.
Pakistan than went ahead of the English total with another valuable stand between Umar Akmal and Azhar Ali.
The two youngsters’ added 57 runs for the sixth wicket, Umar Akmal looked set at the crease and was full of confidence throughout his 38 run knock.
The stroke player struck a big six of Swann, yet ran him self out while attempting a suicidal run to leave Pakistan 236/6.
Umar was followed by his brother Kamran Akmal who could score only 10 runs before driving uppishly at a ball from Broad offering a sharp chance to Morgan who made amends for his drop of Salman Butt earlier in the day.
Azhar Ali then took the charge farming the strike after Aamer and Saeed Ajmal fell cheaply, and despite the lack of contribution from the other end succeeded in adding 57 runs to the Pakistan innings that ended at 308, a lead of 76 runs.
Azhar’s unbeaten 92 came off 175 balls and included 15 fours, his magnificent effort has put Pakistan in the driving seat and if the bowlers continue their good from for another day, the tourists might be closing in on an unlikely win by close of play tomorrow.
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