Youhana rescues Pakistan

A fighting knock of 77 by Yousuf Youhana saved Pakistan from a follow-on on day four of the first cricket Test at Gaddafi stadium in Lahore on Saturday.

When bad light forced another premature close with four overs to go, Pakistan were on 333 for 8, still 147 runs behind England's first innings total of 480-8 declared.

Youhana influenced Saqlain Mushtaq into an unbroken stand of 60 for ninth wicket and nearly put to rest chances of result in the match that surfaced when Pakistan were facing the prospects of follow-on. The 26-year-old hit five fours and a six in his pungnacious innings lasting 244 minutes.

Youhanna hit Craig White for a towering six towards long leg to complete his half century in 185 minutes off 128 balls. His 11th Test 50 also included two boundaries.

"I am happy that I have saved the Test for Pakistan; it was a tough fight in the middle but I applied myself and it paid off," Youhana said.

English bowlers unleashed a tight line and length and exposed a fragile Pakistan batting line-up on a flat strip in a Test which the hosts entered as favourites.

Saqlain, who took a career best 8-164 in England's first innings, provided Youhana staunch support. He remained not out on 14.

Resuming at 119-2, Pakistan seemed to be cruising along nicely with Haq and Salim Elahi in fine fettle and looked unseparable. They posted Pakistan's 150 in 189 minutes off 51 overs but with just 15 minutes to go before lunch, Pakistan lost three quick wickets in the space of 11 runs.

Elahi, playing his fifth Test but first since 1997, was bowled neck and crop by Craig White for 44 after he added a combative 98 runs for the third wicket with Haq.

Haq, who completed his 28th Test half century in 115 minutes facing 84 balls and with eight hits to the ropes, failed to read a delivery from left arm spinner Ashley Giles and was bowled for 63.

White, with 3-48, and Giles, with 3-97, were the pick of England's bowlers.

Eighteen-year-old debutant Qaiser Abbas failed to keep a drive down in White's last over before lunch and was caught in the gully by Graeme Hick for 2.

Pakistan reached 210-5 at lunch, still needing 71 more runs to avert the follow-on.

Captain Moin Khan and Youhana strived hard for runs and added 26 invaluable runs for the sixth wicket until Khan was adjudged leg before wicket by Pakistani umpire Riazuddin off Andrew Caddick for 17.

Khan stood his crease for few seconds before walking off dejectedly. TV replays showed Khan lunged forward and was hit on the front pad.

The Giles-White duo removed Abdur Razzak and Wasim Akram to put Pakistan in danger of following-on.

Razzak was trapped infront of the wickets by a disguised slower one by White for 10 while Akram was caught at short leg off Giles for 1.

Pakistan needed another five to make England bat again as they reached 276-8 at tea with hopes pinned on Youhana who was playing his first Test against England.

England are on a Pakistan tour after 13 years to play three Tests. They lost the three-match one-day series 2-1.

Scoreboard

England (1st first innings): 480-8 declared (G.Thorpe 118, C.White 93, M.Atherton 73, M.Trescothick 71; Saqlain Mushtaq 8-164)

Pakistan (1st innings): (overnight 119-2)
Saeed Anwar lbw b Hick 40
Shahid Afridi c Gough b Giles 52
Salim Elahi b White 44
Inzamam-ul-Haq b Giles 63
Yousuf Youhana not out 77
Qaiser Abbas c Hick b White 2
Moin Khan lbw b Caddick 17
Abdur Razzaq lbw b White 10
Wasim Akram c White b Giles 1
Saqlain Mushtaq not out 14
Extras (b-1 lb-5 nb-7) 13
Total (for eight wickets) 333
Fall of wickets: 1-63, 2-101, 3-199, 4-203, 5-210, 6-236, 7-272, 8-273
To bat: Mushtaq Ahmed
Bowling : Gough 14-4-40-0 (nb-1), Caddick 20-3-55-1, Giles 48-15-97-3, Salisbury 20-2-52-0, Hick 6-0-35-1, White 18-4-48-3 (nb-6)

Mail Cricket Editor