Pakistan's Mohammad Yousuf plays a delivery while West Indies' wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin watches on the second day of the first Test at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore yesterday. Yousuf scored his sixth hundred of the year to propel Pakistan to 265 for four and into a strong position against West Indies. - Reuters
LAHORE (Reuters):
Mohammad Yousuf plundered his 20th Test hundred as Pakistan took control of the first Test against the West Indies, reaching a comfortable 265 for four on the second day yesterday.
Pakistan had a 59-run lead when bad light again ended play early with Yousuf on a entertaining 107, having put on 125 with Shoaib Malik (61).
On a pitch described as flat by Yousuf and unlucky West Indian paceman Jerome Taylor, Yousuf stood out with his fifth hundred at the Gaddafi Stadium despite giving two chances.
He was also fortunate to survive a stumping decision off the bowling of spinner Dave Mohammed when Sri Lankan umpire Asoka de Silva did not refer the line decision to the third umpire.
Television replays suggested Yousuf had got a lucky break, apart from his dropped chances on 43 and 101.
Those blemishes aside, he batted with complete control against the hostile pace of Taylor and Fidel Edwards and the guile of Mohammed.
The last two sessions were dominated by Yousuf and Malik who played some spectacular shots on the offside as the bowlers wilted under the pressure.
DESERVED MORE
Taylor, bowling fast and straight, saw a number of chances dropped off his bowling and deserved more than his two wickets.
"We were somewhat unlucky, I am disappointed a little bit with the dropped catches. Hopefully, tomorrow the boys will be able to do better," Taylor said.
Yousuf's innings from 190 balls with 14 fours was all about grace and timing. Malik packed power in his shots, hitting eight fours and a six in his 149-ball knock.
Pakistan, resuming on 39 for one, in reply to the West Indies' 206, lost Younis Khan (11) early on when he miscued a pull off Edwards to Ramnaresh Sarwan at short midwicket.
Mohammad Hafeez and Yousuf put on 88 before West Indies struck with two quick wickets.
Hafeez was trapped lbw by Taylor for 57 with the total on 133 and seven runs later Mohammed bowled Inzamam for a duck.
Inzamam, returning after a four-game ban for bringing the game into disrepute during the Oval Test row, looked at sea.
Yousuf reached his century after tea, flicking Taylor to fine leg for four. Next ball he miscued a pull-shot high in the air but Taylor floored the chance to cap a bad day for his team.
West Indies 1st innings 206
(B. Lara 61; U. Gul 5-65)
Pakistan 1st innings (Overnight: 39-1)
| M. Hafeez lbw b Taylor | 57 |
| I. Farhat lbw b Taylor | 9 |
| Y. Khan c Sarwan b Edwards | 11 |
| M. Yousuf not out | 107 |
| Inzamam ul-Haq b Mohammed | 0 |
| S. Malik not out | 61 |
| Extras (b-4 lb-4 nb-6 w-6) | 20 |
| Total (for 4 wickets, 91 overs) | 265 |
Fall of wickets: 1-16 2-45 3-133 4-140
To bat: K. Akmal, A. Razzaq, U. Gul, S. Nazir, D. Kaneria
Bowling: F. Edwards 17-1-64-1 (nb-6, w-2), J. Taylor 24-5-67-2, C. Collymore 16-4-34-0 (w-2), D. Bravo 14-2-41-0, D. Mohammed 12-2-31-1, C. Gayle 7-2-18-0, R. Sarwan 1-0-2-0.
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