Mohammad Hafeez fell 12 runs short of a century as Pakistan reached 213 for four, a first innings lead of 21 runs, at tea on day two of the first Test against England in Dubai on Wednesday.
Hafeez (88) and opening partner Taufeeq Umar (58) put together 114 runs to give Pakistan a strong start before Stuart Broad struck twice.
Resuming on 42 for no loss, the right-left combination of Hafeez and Umar negotiated the English bowlers with consummate ease, while helping themselves to the occasional boundaries.
Umar hit Chris Tremlett for two boundaries in the same over on his way to a 13th half-century and Hafeez took a single off the same bowler to score his seventh fifty.
Desperate for a breakthrough, England captain Andrew Strauss brought Broad back into the attack and the change paid off when the lanky bowler, from around the wicket, pegged back Umar’s off-stump.
Broad returned to remove Azhar Ali (1), who poked outside off-stump to depart caught behind.
Hafeez was looking good for a century before he played a premeditated sweep off Graeme Swann to completely miss the line and even reviewing the leg before decision could not save him.
Hafeez’s measured 164-ball knock included 11 fours and a six.
Younus Khan (37) also scored freely before Strauss introduced Jonathan Trott into the attack and the part-time bowler’s sixth delivery trapped the former captain in front of his stumps.
Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq (19) and Asad Shafiq (5) were in the middle at the break.
Pakistan are hosting the three-match in the Gulf due to security concerns in their own country. — Reuters