Talented Azhar Ali finally got a maiden Test century as Pakistan piled pressure on Sri Lanka on the second day of the second Test at Dubai Cricket Stadium here on Thursday. A three-figure score had eluded the 26-year-old right-hander in the last 14 Tests but he finally reached the mark in the closing stages to guide Pakistan to a dominating 281-4, gaining a lead of 42 over Sri Lankan first innings of 239. Azhar, the only bright spot from last year’s fixing-marred tour of England, put on a 94-run stand for the fourth wicket with skipper Misbah-ul Haq (40 not out) and 117 for the third wicket with Younus Khan (55) to lift his team.
Azhar finally fell for 100 in the penultimate over of the day, leaving Misbah and nightwatchman Saeed Ajmal (five) at the crease.
Surviving two confident leg-before shouts against paceman Suranga Lakmal, Azhar straight drove the same bowler to reach 96 and then at 98 miscued a sweep off left-arm spinner Rangana Herath but got the much needed two runs. Azhar, who reached his century in 309 minutes with nine boundaries, held his bat high in delight before kissing the ground in respect on getting the much-eluded hundred.
Al said he was delighted to get what he wanted, a Test hundred. “I have been consistent in batting but couldn’t score a hundred and this is a great relief,” said Azhar, whose previous best was 92 not out against England at The Oval last year. “I was a bit nervous in the 90s but I overcame that.”
Azhar’s two stands helped Pakistan overcome the early loss of openers Taufiq Umar (27) and Mohammad Hafeez (33) to Sri Lankan paceman Dhammika Prasad who finished with 2-73.
Azhar also became the 49th Pakistani batsman to complete 1,000 Test runs when he reached 46.
Younus, when he reached 17, crossed Salim Malik’s aggregate of 5768 (103 Tests) to become the fourth highest Test run getters for Pakistan behind Javed Miandad (8832 in 104 Tests), Inzamam-ul Haq (8829 in 119) and Mohammad Yousuf (7530 in 90).
Younus hit Dilshan over deep mid-wicket boundary for a six to complete his 26th fifty, but in the Sri Lankan captain’s next over he played onto his stumps. His 55 also included two boundaries.
Sri Lanka’s Australian coach Geoff Marsh said his team needed to restrict Pakistan to a lead of 100-150.
“We need to get them out quickly on Friday,” said Marsh, a former Australian opener who also coached Australia and Zimbabwe. “We are still in the game but need to bat well the second time because bowling last would be an advantage.”
Pakistan started slowly after resuming the day at 42-0 and benefited from two drop catches off successive deliveries from Lakmal, who bowled exceptionally well in the morning session.
It was the fifth over of the day when Lakmal got one to jump on Hafeez whose tentative push ballooned towards cover where Dilshan failed to catch the ball which fell behind him. Hafeez, on 25, went for a single.
Next ball, Mahela Jayawardene floored a regulation catch when Umar, batting on 24, failed to keep an edge down.
But both openers failed to take advantage of the lapses, with Umar edging Prasad to wicket-keeper Kaushal Silva for his first catch in Tests while Hafeez was adjudged leg-before in Prasad’s next over.
The first Test ended in a draw at Abu Dhabi. The third and final Test of the series will be played in Sharjah from November 3-7.
