2nd Test: Young troops resist England’s march

Azhar, Shafiq help Pakistan after Panesar claims three top-order wickets on 3rd day.

ABU DHABI:

Pakistan were left with a battle to avoid conceding England a series-levelling win after Monty Panesar proved threatening on a weary Abu Dhabi Stadium pitch on the third day of the second Test.

Panesar claimed three wickets and it was left to Azhar Ali (46) and Asad Shafiq (35) to put on a 71-run stand for the fifth wicket to lift Pakistan to 125 for 4 at stumps.

Ali joined Shafiq with Pakistan reeling at 54 for four, as Panesar dismissed Mohammad Hafeez (22), Younus Khan (one) and Misbahul Haq (12) in his sustained 20-over spell on either side of the tea interval.

But both youngsters helped Pakistan erase the 70-run lead and promised to steer their team around the trouble on a spin-assisted pitch. Pakistan lead by 55 runs with six wickets intact.

Earlier, Stuart Broad gave England a crucial 70-run lead with an unbeaten 58 which took England to 327 in the morning session.

Ali realises responsibilty

Ali, playing his 20th Test, said a target of over 150 would be fighting and will give Pakistan bowlers a reasonable chance. “It was nice to build a partnership and if we take the target to 150 it would be great,” said Ali. “But we have to go a long way and if we carry on we can stage a comeback and put pressure on them. I think a 150-160 target will give us hope that we can fight and win.”

Ali also praised the England spinners. “I think they are really good bowlers, no one threw his wickets and there were some good balls and sometimes we need to just bat and bat and it becomes easier.”

Both Ali and Shafiq defied England’s mixed pace and spin attack in the last session much to the delight of a near 5,000 holiday crowd.

As expected, Panesar came on to bowl as early as the sixth over and struck in his fourth when he spun across Hafeez’s bat to hit him on the knees, right in front of the stumps.

Panesar’s spin partner Graeme Swann made it 29 for two when he dismissed Umar before Panesar spun one across Younus’ bat and hit the off-stump. The left-armer struck again in the second over after resumption, catching Misbah in front of the wicket for 12.

‘It’s going to be tight’

Broad, who added a valuable 36 for the ninth wicket with James Anderson, said the first hour of the fourth day will be crucial.

“In Test cricket you expect partnerships,” said Broad. “We just stayed patient and with 19 overs to the new ball, with only a lead of 50, we’re delighted with our position.”

Pakistan lead the three-Test series on account of their 10-wicket win in last week’s Dubai Test, and will hope to thwart England who are aiming for a series-levelling win. “I think its going to be a tight Test either way. You’ve always got the scoreboard pressure.”

Broad also revealed that a Pakistani taxi driver sledged that his team will be thrashed.

“He [taxi driver] was pretty confident that they were going to destroy us but I had different views.”

Published in The Express Tribune, January 28^th, 2012.