One of my best knocks,
says Youhana
Pakistan's Yousuf Youhana sparkled with a career-best knock as the first Test between Pakistan and England played at Gaddafi stadium in Lahore ended in a tame draw.
Youhana's pugnacious 124 saved Pakistan fron the ignominy of follow-on in a Test which the home team was tipped to dominate on a potentially spin wicket but England came out with the better show.
Pakistan conceded a lead of 79 as they laboured to 401 in their first innings in reply to England's 480-8 declared.
When the umpires decided to end the game with no prospects of a result England had made 77-4 in their second innings.
England negated the impression they are weak on spinners by posting a big total in their first essay, then gave the home team a fright on day four when they came close to enforcing a follow-on.
The second Test begins in Faisalabad on November 29.
When England batted in their second innings, captain Nasser Hussain hurt his right wrist and was rushed to hospital for scans after he failed to connect a hook off Wasim Akram's bouncer. An X-ray revealed only a bruise and Hussain's injury will be reassessed later.
England lost opener Marcus Trescothick for one when he was trapped leg before by Wasim Akram.
Graham Thorpe, who hit 118 in the first innings, fell to Saqlain Mushtaq while attempting to sweep and was caught at square leg by Abdur Razzak for five.
"I am happy with the team's performance because it was our first Test for 13 years in the sub-continent but we would like to carry on," Hussain said in his post match comments.
"We expected that it will be a big turner but it turned slowly and the boys did well," he said.
Michael Atheron became leg-spinner Mushtaq Ahmed's first wicket when he tried to sweep and was caught in front of the stumps after making 20.
Graeme Hick was bowled round his legs by Shahid Afridi for 14.
Twenty-six-year-old Youhana's fourth century in his 25th Test was the hallmark of Pakistan's fightback and he added 123 runs for the ninth wicket with Saqlain who made 32 not out.
"We will have to sit down and think about the second Test, Youhana saved us in this Test by playing a superb knock," Pakistan captain Moin Khan said.
Saqlain, who took 8-164 in the first innings and 9-178 in the match, was declared man-of-the-match.
Restarting at overnight 333-8, Youhana and Saqlain continued to bat unperturbed and posted Pakistan's 350 in 559 minutes in 140.2 overs.
A Roman Catholic, Youhana reached his century with a slick drive to extra cover off Ian Salisbury for three and was cheered by a holiday crowd of 5,000 people, the best in five days.
"A century that helps the team is great and I enjoy fighting on the field, this is one of my best knocks," Youhana said.
The pair posted a century off their ninth wicket stand in 187 minutes off 293 balls.
Pakistan reached 396-8 at tea.
Youhana finally fell to Giles when he edged a forward push to wicketkeeper Alec Stewart for 124.
His combative knock lasted 373 minutes and he faced 308 balls and hit eight fours and a six.
Ashley Giles with 4-113 and Craig White 4-54 shared the bowling spoils.
Youhana, who made his Test debut two years back, had hit centuries at Bridgetown and St.John's on Pakistan's tour of the West Indies last May.
His previous best score of 120 not out was made against Zimbabwe at the same ground in 1998-99.
The tourists play a three-day side game against a Pakistan Cricket Board XI in Lahore from November 23 before the second Test.
Mail Cricket Editor
