Pakistan hit hard on Boxing Day

A scintillating century by Pakistan's stand-in captain Yousuf Youhana placed his side in a strong position at the end of the first day of the Boxing Day Test at the MCG. Youhana scored a rapid 111 in the tourists' first-day score of 6/318, with support from Younis Khan and Salman Butt.

In the wake of a 491-run thumping in the First Test at the WACA, and without their captain and star batsman Inzamam ul-Haq, Pakistan's performance was all the more admirable. On a good batting strip without the steepling bounce of the WACA, Pakistan's batsmen felt much more comfortable and demonstrated a full array of shots, most particularly against the spin of Warne, who ignominiously brought up his own century with figures of 1/100. Youhana's innings was remarkable for its rate of scoring - 111 from 134 deliveries, with 11 fours and 4 sixes - but also for its maturity and assumption of responsibility as stand-in captain.

Pakistan's flagging confidence was aided immeasurably by a solid opening stand, in which the already highly-regarded Salman Butt was able to shine in only his third Test. Butt's innings included 10 fours, a sign of his aggression and confidence, and, to some extent, luck - indeed, he was dropped by Matthew Hayden at gully off the first ball of the day. Imran Farhat played a lesser but nonetheless important role, his 20 lifting the opening stand to 85 before Kasprowicz struck first.

The fall of the first wicket seemingly alarmed a Pakistan team apparently prone to collapse, but fortunately they had the cool head of Youhana and Younis Khan to salvage the innings. Yasir Hameed, playing in Inzamam's stead, could only manage two before being trapped LBW to Gillespie. Butt's thrilling speed of accumulating runs was not matched by his running between wickets, as he was needlessly runout by Clarke and Gilchrist with the score at 94. He could nonetheless be proud of his maiden Test half-century, his 70 coming from less than one hundred deliveries.

The tendency to collapse was alleviated by the circumspection of Younis Khan and the experience of Youhana, both of whom deftly negotiated renewed spells from Australia's quick-bowling trio. Against Warne, Youhana cut loose, smashing him for three of his four sixes, and defying those who questioned the intelligence of Pakistan's batsmen after their mind-boggling display in Perth. The relatively low and consistent bounce rendered the quicks less effective and paved the way for Youhana to carve out a memorable ton.

Younis Khan played a less glamorous role but was nonetheless highly effective, and indeed no slouch by any stretch, with more than half of his runs in boundaries. Youhana fell first attempting once to often to swing Warne away, stumped by Gilchrist on 111, thus ending a brilliant stand of 192. Australia fought back in the last 15 overs of the day to give themselves a good chance of ending Pakistan's innings quickly, with the wickets of Youhana, Khan (87) and Shoaib Malik (6) coming in the space of 15 overs. With competent batsmen in the form of Abdul Razzaq (1*) and 'keeper Kamran Akmal (16*), Pakistan do however have the opportunity to expand their innings and pressure Australia with the ball.

Score Summary - Day 1:

PAKISTAN 6 for 318 off 90 overs
Yousuf Youhana 111, Younis Khan 87, Salman Butt 70; JN Gillespie 3/72

Posted by Adam