England's Chris Read (left) celebrates with Kevin Pietersen (right) after catching Pakistan's Taufeeq Umar off the bowling of Mathew Hoggard during the second day of their third Test at Headingley in Leeds, northern England, yesterday.LEEDS, England (AP):
Mohammad Yousuf and Younis Khan hit un-beaten half centuries to steady Pakistan after a shaky start in their reply to England's first innings of 515 in the third Test at Headingley yesterday.
At close on second day, Pakistan were 202 for two, with Yousuf undefeated on 91 and Khan on 64. Together, they put on a 166-run stand to help the tourists recover from 36 for two.
England's total was reached with centuries from Ian Bell - who hit his third consecutive Test hundred - and Kevin Pietersen and a strong tail end.
England had smashed 141 runs in the day's first session after resuming on 347 for six as they sought to win their first home series against Pakistan in six attempts since 1982. England lead the four-Test series1-0.
Within 10 balls and two runs of their reply, Pakistan lost openers Taufeeq Umar for seven and Salman Butt for 20.
dropped catch
Pakistan were then lucky not to be three wickets down when Paul Collingwood dropped Yousuf at first slip on five, with Pakistan on 42.
Yousuf and Khan took 42 runs off the first six overs after tea, before steadying their run rate and their innings.
The pair reached their 100 partnership in the 33rd over, taking Pakistan to 136 for two, when Hoggard bowled a no ball to Yousuf.
Shortly after, Yousuf reached his half century with a drive through cover off Hoggard. Khan reached his 50 four overs later with a quick single off Monty Panesar as Pakistan moved to 152 and England bowlers struggled to get much movement from the ball for the rest of the day.
Umar, who was making his series debut, had been caught behind off Matthew Hoggard, with wicketkeeper Chris Read diving to his left to make the catch. A specialist wicketkeeper, Read was recalled to the England team for the first time in two years for this test to replace the dropped Geraint Jones.
Despite the low score, alongside Butt's 19, their combined total of 34 was Pakistan's best opening partnership so far this series. It was Pakistan's third different starting combination in as many Tests because of injury.
stumped
Butt was stumped by Pietersen after being left short by Khan's decision to run.
Earlier, Bell scored his fifth century in 17 Tests - and his fourth against Pakistan. He was the first batsman to score three consecutive centuries for England in the same home series since Allan Lamb against West Indies in 1984.
He started the day on 66 and was out for 119 after being bowled by Danish Kaneria. England lost Pietersen, resuming his 104-run innings after retiring with cramp on Friday, when he was caught at long off by Shahid Nazir off Mohammad Sami for 135.
England's tail end resisted well. Steve Harmison's single off Kaneria brought up 500 runs, but two balls later, he was out for 36, caught by Sami. Harmison had hit consecutive sixes off Nazir and back-to-back fours off Kaneria shortly before lunch.
Sajid Mahmood made 34 runs - his best-ever Test score - before falling to a yorker from Umar Gul, which earned him figures of 5-123. Panesar finished not out five.
Reuters
