Cricket
Ali stands out for Pakistan
2010-08-19 20:10
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London - Azhar Ali's Test-best 92 put Pakistan in a strong position against England at the close of the second day of the third Test at The Oval here on Thursday.
And before stumps there was still time for Pakistan to dismiss England captain Andrew Strauss (four), caught at second slip by Yasir Hameed off left-arm quick Mohammad Aamer.
England closed on six for one in their second innings, 69 runs behind, with struggling opener Alastair Cook nought not out and nightwatchman James Anderson unbeaten on two.
Ali's innings was the cornerstone of Pakistan's 308, which gave them a first innings lead of 75.
Pakistan's poor catching had been a key factor in their falling 2-0 behind in this four-match series.
But on Thursday it was England who paid the price for missing a routine chance when Strauss, at first slip, put down Mohammad Asif when the No 11 was on four and Ali on 66.
Pakistan were then 278 for nine but, with Ali seizing on anything either over-pitched or short from Stuart Broad, the last-wicket pair added 38 runs.
The 25-year-old Ali's second fifty in five matches at this level, after he made 51 in Pakistan's three-wicket win over Australia at Headingley last month, was not a lone hand.
Veteran batsman and former captain Mohammad Yousuf marked his return to international cricket with a well-made 56 before he became Graeme Swann's 100th Test wicket, having put on 69 with Ali.
Former captain Yousuf was playing his first Test since January following the overturning of an "indefinite ban" imposed by the Pakistan Cricket Board after he led the side on their winless tour of Australia.
But shortly before tea he drove too early at a Swann delivery and was caught and bowled to end a 108-ball stay featuring eight boundaries.
It meant Swann had taken his 100th wicket in 23 Tests.
He was the third quickest off-spinner to the landmark behind India's Erapalli Prasanna (20 Tests) and South Africa's Hugh Tayfield (22).
Umar Akmal elegantly late cut medium-pacer Paul Collingwood for four to give Pakistan a first innings lead.
But next ball, setting off for a single that was never on, he was run out by Eoin Morgan's direct under-arm hit from cover for 38 featuring four fours and a straight six off Swann.
Ali and Umar Akmal put on 57 for the sixth wicket.
Kamran Akmal and Mohammad Aamer then both fell cheaply to Broad, bowling with the new ball.
Ali, on 62 when Asif came in, was left just short of a maiden Test hundred when the seamer drove Swann straight to Anderson at mid-off.
Swann led England's attack with four wickets for 68 runs in 27.2 overs.
Pakistan, bowled out for record low scores against England of 80 and 72 in crushing defeats by 354 runs and nine wickets in the first and second Tests respectively, had failed to add to their overnight score of 48 for one when recalled opener Hameed was caught behind off Finn.
Swann also struck with his second ball on Thursday when Pakistan captain Salman Butt, in at No 4 after previously opening this series, was caught by wicketkeeper Matt Prior at the third attempt after edging an intended cut. The off-spinner then removed stubborn nightwatchman Wahab Riaz for 27 when the impressive debutant, who took five wickets on Wednesday, was lbw on the sweep to the first ball of Swann's second spell.
But Ali and Yousuf made sure Riaz's two hours of resistance was worthwhile.