Inzamam and Youhana hit unbeaten tons

Inzamam-ul-Haq and Yousuf Youhana surged to unbeaten centuries as Pakistan recovered emphatically from a shaky start against England on the opening day of the third and final Test on Thursday.

After losing their first three wickets for 64 in the morning session, Pakistan reached the close on the first day at 292 for three after Inzamam (123 not out) and Youhana (104 not out) had shared an unbroken fourth wicket stand of 228.

Batting with mounting authority on a placid pitch, Inzamam reached three figures from 196 balls, hitting 15 fours, while Youhana played a measured innings full of handsome strokes to complete his hundred off 207 deliveries, with 13 fours and one six.

Pakistan, having won the toss and opted to bat, were jolted in the first session when they lost Saeed Anwar (8), Imran Nazir (20) and Salim Elahi (28).

Darren Gough, Marcus Trescothick, surprisingly used as first change with his medium pacers, and Andy Caddick took a wicket each to give England a deceptively encouraging start.

The first two Tests in Lahore and Faisalabad were drawn.

The pair completed their half-century stand from 125 balls, with Inzamam reaching his 50 off 109 deliveries with his eighth four.

Saeed Anwar was first to go, trapped lbw by Gough for eight in the fifth over of the morning.

Fellow opener Imran Nazir drove an inviting over-pitched outswinger from medium pacer Trescothick to Ashley Giles in the covers, having made 20.

England struck again when Caddick cut short a threatening innings by Salim Elahi, the batsman playing a delivery into his stumps after stroking four fours in his 54-ball 28.

Before the start of the match, former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram withdrew because of back spasms, though he had looked fit when he took part in the team's warm-up session. He was replaced by Waqar Younis.

Pakistan made one other change to the team who played in the second test, Nazir replacing off-spinner Arshad Khan.

England were unchanged after Alec Stewart passed a fitness test on a swollen elbow.

Scoreboard

Pakistan (1st innings):

Saeed Anwar lbw b Gough 8
Imran Nazir c Giles b Trescothick 20
Salim Elahi b Caddick 28
Inzamam-ul-Haq not out 123
Yousuf Youhanna not out 104
Extras: (lb 2, nb 7) 9
Total: (for 3 wkts) 292
To bat: Shahid Afridi, Moin Khan, Abdur Razzak, Saqlain Mushtaq, Waqar Younis and Danish Kaneria.
Fall of wickets: 1-8, 2-44, 3-64
Bowling: Darren Gough 17-2-68-1, Andrew Caddick 18-1-54-1, Marcus Trescothick 14-1-34-1, Craig White 14-2-43-0, Ian Salisbury 12-1-39-0, Ashley Giles 15-1-52-0.
Overs: 90

Mail Cricket Editor