Pakistan take 204-run lead over Australia 2nd day

SYDNEY: Pakistan gained a big lead of 204 runs over the Aussies despite a collapse in the final session of the second day of the second Test match here at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Monday. They lost seven wickets in the third and the last session of the day. At stumps, Pakistan were 331 runs for nine wickets with tail-enders Danish Kaneria (2) and Mohammad Asif (0) at the crease. Pakistan resumed at 14-0 in the morning and both openers, playing steadily added 70 runs in the first session and succeeded in reaching 100 without being separated after lunch. This was the second century stand between the pair of Imran Farhat and Salman Butt in Test cricket. However, the partnership was broken by spinner Nathan Hauritz when Imran Farhat was caught behind by Brad Haddin on an attempted sweep shot. Imran made 53, his 13th half-century in 32nd Test. He hit four boundaries in his 140-ball innings and together with Salman Butt made 109 runs. Later, Salman Butt was also caught behind off Mitchell Johnson for 71, made with the help of nine fours. This was his eighth fifty in 26th Test. Pakistan were 190-2 at tea with Faisal Iqbal and captain Mohammad Yousuf batting patiently. They carved out a 61-run partnership off 83 balls before Faisal departed on 27. Yousuf was joined by young Umar Akmal who batted aggressively and scored 49 from 48 balls with nine fours. Yousuf also fell in the forties (46). Misbah-ul-Haq and Kamran Akmal could not make good scores and were dismissed on 11 and 14, respectively. However, Misbah completed 1,000 runs in his 19th Test. Mohammad Sami and Umar Gul contributed 13 and 12 runs, respectively. For Australia, Doug Bollinger was the most successful bowler, taking three for 70 runs while Shane Watson and Mitchell Johnson claimed two wickets each. Peter Siddle and Hauritz took one wicket each.