Younis Khan became the first batsman in 90 years to hit three hundreds in consecutive innings against Australia as Pakistan took early advantage of the second Test in Abu Dhabi on Thursday (October 30).
Younis, who smashed twin hundreds in the first Test which Pakistan won by 221 runs, notched up an unbeaten 111 for his 27th century to help Pakistan close the opening day on a solid footing of 304 for 2 after they won the toss and batted on a flat Sheikh Zayed Stadium pitch.
In the last over before stumps, Azhar Ali also completed his sixth Test hundred and was unbeaten on 101 at stumps on a day when Australia used as many as eight bowlers and unusual fielding placings but failed to break the Azhar-Younis third-wicket stand which has so far yielded 208 runs.
Younis lofted Glenn Maxwell to the long-on boundary for his tenth boundary to complete his hundred before raising his bat to his teammates and the small crowd that was present at the stadium.
England’s Herbert Sutcliffe was the last man to score three hundreds in consecutive Test innings against Australia, way back in 1924-25. Before Younis, three Pakistani batsmen – Zaheer Abbas (v India in 1982) Mudassar Nazar (v India in 1982) and Mohammad Yousuf (v West Indies in 2006) – had achieved the feat.
So ruthless was Younis that even the second new ball taken soon after it was due couldn’t disturb him. He has so far hit ten boundaries and a six during his 155-ball knock.
Things went wrong for Michael Clarke right from the toss. He did everything, from using two short mid-wickets, a short mid-on and a man almost behind the umpire at the bowler’s end but even that failed to get him a wicket, leaving him frustrated in his bids to avoid a first series defeat against Pakistan since 1994.
Younis survived two leg-before reviews, off Maxwell when on 35 and off Steven Smith when on 68.
Azhar, who hit six boundaries off 223 balls, also survived two sharp chances on 34 and 46, summing up an unrewarding day for Australia.
Ahmed Shehzad (35) and Mohammad Hafeez (45) were the only batsmen to be dismissed on the opening day.
Hafeez fell to an edge behind the wicket off Mitchell Johnson while Shehzad, who was shaping well during his 64-ball knock, missed a delivery from Nathan Lyon, the offspinner, to be trapped in front.
Clarke, the Australian captain, juggled his pace bowlers before bringing Lyon on in the 14th over to get the much-needed breakthrough.
Pakistan stuck to the same XI that won the first Test while Australia brought in Mitchell Starc, the pacer, and Maxwell for Alex Doolan, the batsman, and Steve O’Keefe, the left-arm spinner.
Three-ton Younis, Azhar frustrate Australia
