Sarfraz Ahmed powers Pakistan to 454

Dubai : Sarfraz Ahmed’s belligerent century powered Pakistan to a strong 454 in their first innings on the second day of the first Test against Australia on Thursday.

The 27-year-old wicketkeeper-batsman scored at a break-neck pace to race to his second Test century in 80 balls to make Australia regret their decision to go into the match with two specialist spinners.

Sarfraz fell stumped to off-spinner Nathan Lyon after a 105-ball 109 when tea was called with Zulfiqur Babar (seven) at the other end with Pakistan on 454 for eight. His entertaining knock, studded with 14 fours, ended when he stretched to play a sweep shot off Lyon only to miss the line and wicketkeeper Brad Haddin removed the bails.

Babar, who had his finger cut by a vicious Mitchell Johnson delivery, did not return to bat after tea and Pakistan lasted two deliveries after the break without adding any run to their score.After their openers fell cheaply on Wednesday, the subsequent five Pakistan batsmen helped themselves to three fifties and two centuries against a lacklustre attack.

Their comfort level against the Australian spinners was evident from the fact that Lyon and his left-arm spin partner Steeve O’Keefe bled 255 runs between them for the four wickets they shared.Misbah-ul-Haq (69) and Asad Shafiq (89) dominated the morning session which yielded 109 runs from 28 overs after Pakistan had resumed on 219 for four.

Brief scores: Pakistan 454 all out (S Ahmed 109, Y Khan 106, A Shafiq 89, M-ul-Haq 69, Azhar Ali 53; M Johnson 3-39)