IN PICS: Younis and Misbah make history on day one

Barnaby Read 17:52 21/10/2016
Misbah and Younis stole the show on day one.

Younis Khan and Misbah-ul-Haq both made the most of dropped catches by West Indies in a familiarly dominant middle-order partnership between the two stalwarts on day one of the second Test in Abu Dhabi on Friday.

In the process of their 49th innings together at the crease, the pair first moved passed Inzaman-ul-Haq and Mohammad Yousuf [3,013] as the second highest Pakistan pairing in history, before taking top spot from Yousuf and Younis [3,137] as the highest Pakistan combination.

They also registered a 15th century partnership and closed the day with their record as Pakistan’s most successful pairing standing at 3,156. The names they now sit above and weight of runs proving how valuable Misbah and Younis have been, and still are, for Pakistan and the gaping void they will leave when retirement finally comes.

Younis was the star, finding his feet with immediate effect after returning to the side having missed the series opener in Dubai after suffering from dengue.

The 38-year-old was in full flow throughout his knock but in the final over before tea offered a sharp return catch to Kraigg Brathwaite that the bowler could only parry to the turf. West Indies captain Jason Holder held his head in his hands, the cost of missing such an opportunity painfully clear. Brathwaite did get his man just before the close, but only after Younis added another 34 runs.

As Younis moved to a 33rd Test century of his career, the severity of that drop increased with every delivery that passed. His innings was a typically classy affair, Younis moving ninth in the list of most Test centuries as he once again showed his ruthless efficiency in converting fifties into three figures. For perspective, only Don Bradman has a better innings to century ratio in Tests.

Pakistan's best Test partnerships

  • Mohammad Yousuf & Younis Khan (2000-2009): 42 innings, 3,137 runs
  • Misbah-ul-Haq & Younis (2001-2016): 49 inns, runs
  • Inzaman-ul-Haq & Younis (1998-2007): 57 inns, 3,013 runs

At the other end, Misbah was also gifted a reprieve on 54 as Shai Hope – playing in place of Shane Dowrich behind the stumps – put him down off Shannon Gabriel. By the close, Misbah remained 90 not out, with Pakistan preparing to start the second day 304-4 and firmly in control.

As the saying goes, catches win matches and for West Indies to drop both Younis and Misbah was an error that could ultimately decide this contest, and the series.

Earlier, there was another familiar sight at the toss, Misbah calling right for the 15th time out of 23 flips of the coin in his UAE Tests as captain. It would have been disheartening for West Indies counterpart Jason Holder but it was obvious from the start that his side were buoyed by running Pakistan so close last time out.

They struck early, Gabriel bowling first Test triple centurion Azhar Ali for a duck in just the fifth over of the day. By the time Devendra Bishoo bowled Sami Aslam to leave Pakistan 42-2, West Indies had made the early inroads they craved once Misbah routinely elected to bat.

Asad Shafiq and Younis steadied things until the extended hour long lunch break for Friday prayers, Pakistan 95-2 at the interval as Shafiq passed fifty for the third Test in a row.

The site of Younis walking to the crease was a reassuring one for Pakistan, the batsman one of three changes to the side from Dubai. Zulfiqar Babar and Rahat Ali came in as Babar Azam, Wahab Riaz and Mohammad Amir made way.

Once Shafiq (68) departed, Younis’ importance was laid bare and it seemed his brother in arms enjoyed their reunion. Both ominous, and predictable, was the Younis and Misbah coming together as they set about moving Pakistan toward a substantial first innings total and making some history along the way.

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