24 October,2014 08:20 AM IST | | AFP
Australia got off to a solid start after wicketkeeper Sarfraz Ahmed's brilliant hundred guided Pakistan to a big first innings total of 454 in the first Test here on yesterday
Pakistan's Sarfraz Ahmed celebrates his century on Day Two of the third Test against Australia in Dubai yesterday. Pic/Getty Images
Dubai: Australia got off to a solid start after wicketkeeper Sarfraz Ahmed's brilliant hundred guided Pakistan to a big first innings total of 454 in the first Test here on yesterday.
Pakistan's Sarfraz Ahmed celebrates his century on Day Two of the third Test against Australia in Dubai yesterday. Pic/Getty Images
Opener David Warner smashed a quickfire 75 and Chris Rogers was on 31 to take Australia to 113 without loss at close of play on the second day, trailing by 341 runs with all 10 wickets standing.
Warner hit seven fours and a six in his eighth Test half-century, his sixth in succession, as Australia matched Pakistan's batting.
Pakistan could have removed Rogers on 13 in left-arm spinner Zulfiqar Babar's first over but Younis Khan failed to hold a straightforward catch in the slips. Warner reverse-swept debutant leg-spinner Yasir Shah for his fifth boundary to reach his run-a-ball 50.
Earlier, Pakistan's total had been lifted by Ahmed. Ahmed, who scored his first hundred in Sri Lanka two months ago, fell in the last over before tea, stumped off spinner Nathan Lyon for 109. He batted for 148 minutes and hit 14 boundaries in all.
He completed his hundred off just 80 balls, hitting paceman Mitchell Marsh over the slips for the fourth fastest century by a Pakistani. Younis Khan scored a hundred on Day One.
Majid Khan holds the record for the fastest Test hundred by a Pakistani in terms of deliveries faced, on 74 balls, while Shahid Afridi hit hundreds off 78 balls on two occasions.
Ahmed said he will be happy if his innings helps his team win. "I played my natural game," said Ahmed.
"If this century helps the team win then I will be more happy. We will come back tomorrow through our bowlers and if we manage a good lead then it's better."
Pakistan added 235 runs after resuming on their overnight score of 219-4 with Ahmed, Misbah-ul Haq and Asad Shafiq all coming good on a flat pitch which had little for the bowlers.
Brief scores
Pakistan 454 (Younis Khan 106, Sarfraz Ahmed 109, Asad Shafiq 89; M Johnson 3-39) lead Australia 113-0 (D Warner 75', C Rogers 31') by 341 runs
