Sports Desk
ABU DHABI: Younis Khan’s ton and half-centuries from Asad Shafiq and Skipper Misbah-ul-Haq lifted Pakistan to a solid 304 for 4 after they lost both openers early on day one of the second Test against West Indies.
From an uneasy 42 for 2 in good batting conditions, Pakistan roused themselves with positive intent from their third- and fourth-wicket pairs, as Younis put on 87 with Shafiq and 175 with Misbah-ul-Haq.
West Indies missed a chance to dismiss Younis in the last over of the second session, Kraigg Brathwaite failing to hold on to a return catch off a firmly-hit flat-bat drive. He survived, and went to tea batting on 84, with Misbah alongside him on 35.
Having chosen to bat first, Pakistan lost their first wicket in the fifth over of the morning, Azhar Ali playing on while looking to drive Shannon Gabriel through the covers, the ball nipping in a little and not quite coming on to the bat. Walking in at No. 3, Shafiq got going almost immediately, rising to his toes to cut Gabriel for four off the second ball he faced. In the next over, he punished another short ball, this time swivelling to pull Miguel Cummins through square leg.
Shafiq continued to play his shots, moving confidently forward to ease drives through the covers and nimbly back to cut and pull deliveries from Devendra Bishoo that were only marginally short.
As he sparkled at one end, Sami Aslam played a strange innings at the other. He seldom got the strike, and barely scored any runs when he did, while not looking particularly troubled by any of West Indies’ bowlers. By the end of the 13th over, he was batting on 6 off 28 balls and Shafiq on 32 off 44. Then, off the second ball of the 14th over, he looked to drive Bishoo through the covers, against the turn, and was bowled through the gate by a dipping legbreak. In walked Younis, back in the side after missing the first Test to recover from a bout of dengue fever. He got an early freebie from Bishoo.
There was little in the conditions to challenge either batsman – only one ball turned really sharply, Roston Chase forcing Shafiq to defend hurriedly after shaping to cut – and Younis moved safely to 29 without always looking at ease.
Gabriel bowled a good spell after lunch, dismissing Shafiq, who chopped on while trying to force him away through the covers off the back foot, and then found a bit of reverse swing to beat both of Misbah’s edges. But Holder took him off after only three overs. Younis and Misbah went after the spinners thereafter, between them hitting Bishoo for three big sixes as he went for 40 in an eight-over spell.
Former skipper, Younis was dismissed with just six overs remaining the day. He made 127. With bad light conditions umpiers decided to end the day 1 play. At the moment Misbah is batting on unbeaten 90 while Yasir Shah just walked in.
Earlier, Younis replaced Babar Azam in Pakistan’s side. They also rested fast bowlers Mohammad Amir and Wahab Riaz, bringing in Rahat Ali and the left-arm spinner Zulfiqar Babar in their place. The inclusion of Babar gave them an extra spinner apart from Yasir Shah and Mohammad Nawaz. West Indies made one change, Shai Hope replacing the wicketkeeper Shane Dowrich, who pulled up injured while warming up.
