Pakistan fightback, Yousuf hits a ton
Pakistan fightback, Yousuf hits a ton
At the end of the third day's play, Pakistan were 409 for seven wickets in reply to England's 528 for nine declared.

London: Pakistan middle-order batsman Mohammad Yousuf struck his 17th Test century on Saturday with an unbeaten 185 on the third day of the first Test against England at Lord's.

At the close, Pakistan were 409 for seven wickets in reply to England's 528 for nine declared.

Yousuf stroked 24 fours and a six and has now been at the crease for seven hours.

Skipper Inzamam-ul-Haq scored 69, Abdul Razzaq made 22 and wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal struck 58 before becoming Kevin Pietersen's first Test victim.

Yousuf reached his maiden century in England with the help of 15 boundaries from 157 balls.

Possibly the most stylish player in a team crammed with elegant stroke-makers, he averaged 68.40 against the same opponents in the three-match series late last year, scoring 223 in Pakistan's innings victory in the third Test in Lahore.

Earlier, Pakistan lost nightwatchman Mohammad Sami for a duck in the second over of the day's play after resuming on 66 for three with Yousuf on 20.

Matthew Hoggard caught the edge of Sami's bat with his fourth delivery and the ball flew to acting skipper Andrew Strauss at second slip.

England appealed for the catch but, after consulting with his fellow umpire Simon Taufel, Steve Bucknor confirmed the ball had bounced.

Sami got another edge to the second ball and this time Geraint Jones completed the catch behind the stumps, moving to his right.

Steve Harmison, who took two wickets in three balls on Friday evening, beat Yousuf for pace flashing outside the off stump.

He then bounced the new batsman Inzamam and Hoggard also bowled several short-pitched deliveries to the Pakistan skipper with two men back for the hook.

Inzamam got off the mark with a sumptuous off-drive off Hoggard and Yousuf accumulated runs steadily with deft deflections and flashing cover drives, including one off Harmison which raced to the boundary before the bowler had completed his follow-through.

Harmison should have had a third wicket when Inzamam was on 17 and the total 110 but Marcus Trescothick was unable to hold a sharp chance to his right hand.

After taking lunch at 165 for four, the pair were in no trouble whatsoever on a typical Lord's midseason pitch apart from a miscue from Yousuf when an inside edge off Harmison eluded the stumps and sped through to the boundary.

Inzamam brought up his 43rd Test half-century from 89 deliveries with seven fours and looked set for a sixth Test century against England when he appeared to lose sight of a Plunkett delivery and was bowled jumping back.

His partnership with Yousuf was worth 173 runs from 254 balls.

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