Pakistan 222-2 at close in third Test

DUBAI: Pakistan were 222-2 in their second innings at close on the second day of the third and final Test against England  played at Dubai Stadium here on Saturday, taking an overall lead of 180 runs. Younis Khan, who notched his 20th Test hundred, was unbeaten on 115 and with him Azhar Ali was 75 not out. The two have added 194 runs for the unfinished third wicket stand. England were bowled out for 141 in reply to Pakistan’s 99. Pakistan lead the series 2-...

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England strike back as wickets continue to tumble

DUBAI: Pakistan were 30-2 at lunch on the second day of the third and final Test in Dubai on Saturday, trailing England by 12 runs after losing both openers. Pakistan, with an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series, lost Taufiq Umar (six) and Mohammad Hafeez (21) in their second innings after England posted 141 for a first-innings lead of 42. At the break Azhar Ali (one) and Younis Khan (one) were at the crease on another day of bowlers’ domination, after 16 wickets fell on the first day with Pakistan dismissed for 99 in their first innings. Earlier Abdul Rehman took 5-40 — his second five-wicket haul after a career-best 6-25 in Pakistan’s 72-run win in the second Test in Abu Dhabi. Pakistan won the first Test by ten wickets,...

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Team India ‘afraid’, says Zaka

DUBAI: Pakistan cricket chief Zaka Ashraf said Saturday that his side’s recent resurgence in form had left arch-rivals India afraid to take them on. The neighbours have not played a Test series since 2007, with sporting ties frozen after the terrorist attacks on Mumbai in November 2008. There were hopes of a thaw after the sides met in the World Cup semi-final last March and they are slated to play each other under the International Cricket Council’s Future Tours Programme this year. But they have struggled to find a slot because of India’s hectic schedule, prompting Ashraf, who took over as Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman in October last year, to accuse India of running scared. “Maybe the way our team is performing...

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