The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : Yousuf is back with a bang

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Jul 06, 2009
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

Sport

Sport - Cricket

Yousuf is back with a bang

Misbah chips in with a useful 56; Kulasekara claims four wickets

— PHOTO: AFP

VINTAGE STUFF: Mohammad Yousuf showed no signs of rustiness in his century against Sri Lanka on the second day of the first Test on Sunday.

GALLE: Mohammad Yousuf hit a fluent century on his return to big-time cricket to put Pakistan ahead in the first Test against Sri Lanka here on Sunday.

Yousuf made 112 and Misbah-ul-Haq chipped in with 56 as Pakistan, replying to Sri Lanka’s 292, recovered from 80 for four to post 342 in its first innings on the second day at the Galle International Stadium.

Sri Lanka, trailing by 50 runs, failed to score from the one over bowled by Mohammad Aamer in its second knock before stumps were drawn for the day.

Pakistan’s lead left the match evenly poised on a wicket that appeared to have eased out after helping the seamers with bounce and movement on the first day.

Yousuf, who turns 35 next month, was playing his first Test match since December 2007 after being banned by the Pakistan board for his involvement with the unauthorised Indian Cricket League.

But the prolific right-hander was rehabilitated with a call-up for the current tour after breaking links with the rebel body and repaid the selectors’ faith with his 24th Test century.

The bearded 80-Test veteran hit 11 boundaries en route to his first Test hundred against Sri Lanka when he was run out in the final session attempting a cheeky single.

Lucky

Sri Lanka was convinced Yousuf should have departed on 57 when he edged left-arm spinner Rangana Herath and the ball carried off the batsman’s bat and pad to makeshift wicket-keeper Tillakaratne Dilshan.

Television replays showed Yousuf was out but Australian umpire Daryl Harper turned down the confident appeal from the bowler and close-in fielders.

Pakistan, which began the day at 15 for two, lost two quick wickets before Yousuf and Misbah resurrected the innings by adding 139 for the fifth wicket.

When Misbah fell shortly before tea, caught in the slips off Herath, former captain Shoaib Malik (38) helped Yousuf put on 75 for the sixth wicket. Kamran Akmal hit 31, but Pakistan lost its last five wickets for 48 runs.

Seamer Nuwan Kulasekera finished with four for 71, but mystery spinner Ajantha Mendis went wicketless from 25 overs in which he conceded 89 runs.

Rauf impresses

Abdur Rauf, who took two wickets on his Test debut on Saturday, proved his batting worth as a nightwatchman by scoring 31 of Pakistan’s first 40 runs in the morning session.

Rauf put on 50 for the third wicket with skipper Younus Khan when he fell to Kulasekera, caught by Dilshan just before the drinks break. — AFP

SCOREBOARD

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Sport