Tons-Up Yousuf, Akmal Lay Solid Foundation for Pakistan: 3rd Test

LAHORE, 2 December 2005 — Pakistan took complete control of the proceedings on the third day of the final Test against England, taking an unassailable lead of 158 runs with five first innings wickets still intact. When stumps were drawn yesterday, 22 overs earlier due to bad light, the home team was strongly placed at 446 for five, replying to England’s first innings score of 288 all out.

Pakistan, one up in the three-Test series and needing only a draw to clinch the series, were placed in such a commanding position due to some dogged and determined batting by Mohammad Yousuf and wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal, both having scored centuries on the third day.

England used as many as seven bowlers, who toiled all day with only one success. In the 19th over debutant Liam Plunkett accounted for Shoaib Akhtar, who was caught by Shaun Udal for 38 when the total was 247.

From then on Yousuf and Akmal played sterling knocks to take the score to 446 for five.

Pakistan resumed their reply at 185 for 4 with Yousuf at 84 and Akhtar yet to open his account. Akhtar, who was sent as night watchman as injured Inzamam ul-Haq could not resume his innings after the dismissal of Hasan Raza a few minutes before close on Wednesday. Yousuf and Akhtar added 67 useful runs before Akhtar parted company when Pakistan was still in arrears of 41 runs.

Yousuf, who has been troubled with shoulder injury during this series, batted with admirable composure to reach his 14th Test hundred, second in 2005 just after the drinks interval by hitting Udal over his head for a six. He got solid support from Akmal at the other end and the two remained unseperated at lunch with Yousuf at 114 and Akmal at 12. During the extended second session, the two completely dominated the proceedings. England captain Micheal Vaughn took the new ball as soon as it was due just after play resumed after lunch.

But the change made very little impact as both the Pakistani batsmen continued to bat without any trouble. Their gritty batting gave skipper Inzamam more time to recover from his wrist injury. Inzamam was hit in his right hand by a nasty, rising delivery from Steve Harmison on the second day.

Akmal reached his hundred by driving Plunkett smoothly through covers but not before surviving a chance at 95 when Marcus Trescothick put him down at slip off Plunkett, the only bowler to consistently pitch the ball up on a benign track.

The unbroken sixth-wicket stand of 199 between Yousuf and Akmal bettered Pakistan’s previous best against England, 145 between Mushtaq Mohammad and Intikhab Alam set in 1972-73. At close of play Yousuf was at 183, 13 short of what would be his third Test double century and Akmal was batting at 115.

With yesterday’s loss of 22 overs of play a total of 54 overs have been lost in three days and this may prove a vital factor in the outcome of the Test match.