Abu Dhabi: Taufeeq Umar hit a dogged, unbeaten 109 on Wednesday as Pakistan's top order dominated against Sri Lanka on the second day of the opening Test at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium.
Resuming on 27-0, Pakistan powered past Sri Lanka's below-par first-innings total of 197 to reach 259-1 at the close, already ahead by 62 and eyeing a formidable lead.
Taufeeq ground out his sixth Test century off 259 balls, including seven fours. The 30-year-old left-hander, playing his 33rd Test match, cracked eight fours.
Taufeeq shared successive century partnerships with Mohammad Hafeez and Azhar Ali as Pakistan wore down an inexperienced visiting bowling attack.
He put on a 118-run opening partnership with Hafeez, who stroked a fluent 75, including eight fours and a six, off 127 deliveries in an innings that spanned two hours, 40 minutes.
Taufeeq and Azhar then added a further 141 unbroken for the second wicket. It was the pair's third century stand in just eight innings together.
Azhar contributed an unbeaten 60, with five fours, off 176 balls in just under four hours.
Sri Lanka were wicket-less in the first session at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium as Hafeez starred in the morning session, powering past his half-century as Taufeeq dug in.
The pair went to lunch at 115-0 but were separated in the second over after the break.
Left-arm spinner Rangana Herath, who bowled with good control but little luck throughout the day, got one to hurry on and trap Hafeez leg-before-wicket to leave Pakistan at 118-1.
Herath ended the day with figures of 1-55 off 35 overs.
Taufeeq and Azhar adopted a caution-first approach as they consolidated after the loss of Hafeez, adding just 59 runs in 30 overs in the second session.
Taufeeq reached his fifty, off 144 balls with three fours, as Herath helped Sri Lanka stall the run-rate.
Azhar survived one difficult chance when on seven, as Mahela Jayawardene at slip couldn't get his hands under a low edge off Herath.
The pair took Pakistan to tea on 174-1 and maintained their steady progress after tea.
Sri Lanka took the second new ball after the break but Taufeeq and Azhar were more adventurous against pace bowling and continued Pakistan's dominance late into the day.
Taufeeq, who scored a century on his Test debut against Bangladesh a decade ago, cracked a number of boundaries as he hurried to three figures.
He eventually reached his landmark with a nudged single to fine leg off Suranga Lakmal, sinking to his knees in prayer to celebrate.
Taufeeq survived one piece of luck soon after he completed his century, appearing to get an inside edge through to wicketkeeper Prasanna Jayawardene as he pushed forward to Chanaka Welegedara - but umpire Tony Hill ruled in the batsman's favor.
The 26-year-old Azhar, in his 14th Test, got to his own milestone off 146 balls with five fours and survived comfortably to the close with Taufeeq.
No comments:
Post a Comment