Younis Khan hit consecutive third century

Abu Dhabi, October 31, 2014 (Agencies) Younis Khan became the first batsman in 90 years to hit three hundreds in consecutive innings against Australia as Pakistan took early advantage of the second Test in Abu Dhabi on Thursday. The 36-year-old, who smashed twin hundreds in the first Test, notched an unbeaten 111 for his 27th century to help Pakistan close the opening day on a solid footing of 304/2 after they won the toss and batted on a flat Sheikh Zayed Stadium pitch. In the last over before stumps Azhar Ali also completed his sixth Test hundred and was unbeaten on 101 on a day Australia used as many as eight bowlers and unusual fielding placings but failed to break the Ali-Younis third wicket stand which has so far yielded 208 runs. Younis lofted spinner Glenn Maxwell to long-on boundary for his tenth boundary to complete his hundred before raising his bat to his team-mates and a few dozen people who



gave him a standing ovation. England's Herbert Sutcliffe was the last man to score three hundreds in three consecutive Test innings against Australia way back in 1924-25.

Before Younis, three Pakistani batsmen Zaheer Abbas (v India in 1982) Mudassar Nazar (v India in 1982) and Mohammad Yousuf (vs West Indies in 2006) had achieved the feat.So ruthless was Younis that even the second new ball taken soon after it was due couldn't disturb him. He has so far hit ten boundaries and a six during his 155-ball knock.

Things went wrong for Michael Clarke right from the toss when he wrongly called tails. He did everything, from using two short mid-wickets, a short mid-on and a man almost behind the umpire at bowler's end but even that failed to get him any wicket, leaving him frustrated in his bids to avoid first series defeat against Pakistan since 1994.