Pakistan vs Sri Lanka 2013-14: 1st Test- Day 2: Ton-up Younis and Misbah pile more misery on Sri Lanka

Pakistan batsman Younis Khan raises his bat to the crowd after scoring a century (100 runs) during the second day of the first cricket Test match between Pakistan and Sri Lanka at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi on January 1, 2014. Sri Lanka were bowled out for 204 in their first innings of the first Test against Pakistan in Abu Dhabi.

Centuries from Younis Khan and Misbah-ul-Haq propelled Pakistan to a position of strength after losing two early wickets in the day two of the first Test match against Sri Lanka at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi. Despite the late dismissal of Younis Khan for 136 runs, Pakistan ended the day with a lead 123 runs, with Misbah (105*) and Shafiq (12) at the crease and the scoreboard reading 327/4.

Beginning the day on 46/1 in 18.1 overs, Suranga Lakmal sent Mohammad Hafeez (11) back to the hut in no time. The 33-year-old drove straight to kaushal Silva at short-cover point who took a brilliant catch to dismiss the batsman.

Hafeez’ stunning performances in the just concluded One-Day series were enough for the management to rope him in place of Azhar Ali, who was being trusted with the number 3 role previously.

Though he has not delivered off-late, Ali displayed decent technique and remarkable temperament in his short Test career and would feel hard done by especially when being replaced by someone who usually looks out of depth against quality pace bowling and hence would be a liability when it comes to long term planning.

Shaminda Eranga soon doubled the blow by getting rid of Ahmed Shehzad (38 off 83), who after doing all the hard work yesterday, pulled straight to backward square leg to leave Pakistan at 83/3 in 30.2 overs. The fact that the dismissals had come from bowlers who were least expected to do so, considering the pitch was flat, would have given some hope for Mathews for the rest of the day.

But Younis Khan and Misbah-ul-haq combined to score a massive 218-run partnership for the fourth wicket in the next 64.4 overs, as the spin-duo of Rangana Herath and Sachithra Senanayake, Sri Lanka’s biggest hope, toiled hard to deliver any telling blows.

Apart from a solitary dropped chance for Misbah by Mahela Jayawerdene, the partnership was flawless with a free-flowing Younis scoring 136 off 198 deliveries before being bowled, while playing down the wrong line to Eranga. Asad Shafiq, combining with his captain, made sure that no further inroads were made by some disciplined batting towards the end of the day.

Sri Lanka were bowled out for 204 in their first innings, courtesy of an impressive spell of fast bowling from Junaid Khan and Bilawal Bhatti. Captain Angelo Mathews led from the front after a dramatic top order collapse, with a counterattacking 91 off 127 deliveries.