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Younis double ton puts Pak on top against England
LONDON: Younis Khan’s superb double century took Pakistan into a dominant position in the fourth Test against England at The Oval on Saturday.
LONDON: Younis Khan’s superb double century took Pakistan into a dominant position in the fourth Test against England at The Oval on Saturday.
The veteran batsman’s 218 was the centrepiece of Pakistan’s 542 all out at tea on the third day in reply to England’s 328.
That left Pakistan with a first-innings lead of 214 runs as they looked to end the four-match series all square at 2-2.
England won the third Test at Edgbaston by 141 runs after overturning a first-innings deficit of 103 runs.
But only six times in properly completed matches in the 139-year history of Test cricket have a team come back from more than 200 runs behind on first innings to win.
Younis received excellent support in a ninth-wicket stand of 97 from Mohammad Amir, whose 39 not out was the left-arm quick’s highest Test score.
Younis’s sixth innings of 200 or more in Test cricket was a dramatic way for the 38-year-old to end a run of low scores.
He had managed just 122 runs in six previous innings this series, with a best of 33 in Pakistan’s first Test win at Lord’s.
AHMED ATTACKS
Pakistan resumed on 340 for six after Asad Shafiq (109) and Younis (101 not out) had both compiled impressive centuries.
But it was Ahmed, 17 not out overnight, who was the initial aggressor on Saturday as he scored in typically brisk fashion.
By contrast it took Younis 13 balls to add his first run Saturday.
But when James Anderson gave him width outside off stump, Younis responded by cutting England’s all-time leading wicket-taker in front of point for four.
And when Younis off-drove Stuart Broad for a boundary in classic style, it meant Pakistan’s seventh-wicket pair had shared a fifty stand in 110 balls.
Younis, after his ‘settling-in’ period Saturday, looked increasingly fluent as the veteran batsman extended his 32nd Test century.
Ahmed was eventually out having struck seven fours in 78 balls when he edged a goodlength Woakes delivery and opposing wicket-keeper Jonny Bairstow held an excellent, diving, one-handed catch.
Pakistan were now 397 for seven, with Woakes having taken his 26th wicket this series.
