Having had particularly poor outings in his last three Tests, senior pro Younis Khan gave his supporters much to cheer about on Saturday by completing a brilliant double ton that has now put Pakistan on top at The Oval and give them a handsome opportunity to level the series.

Earlier, form and luck had eluded him and rumors about his reflexes slowing down with age were already doing the rounds.

His century, the 32nd of his illustrious career on the second day, was brilliant to say the least.

Thankfully, he seems to have learnt his lessons from previous dismissals when he hopped and jumped, exposing his leg-stump more often and losing control of his balance at the crease.

In this innings, however, he had cut clearly checked that habit which made him take a lot more control and restored his balance when striking the ball to drive or cut.

Dashing drives, punctuated with crisp cuts and sliding hooks from him was a pleasant sight as he marched towards his 150 and then the double hundred.

A towering six to get to his double century was a sight to behold.

What is amazing too is the fact that in his 32 Test centuries, he seldom faltered in the nineties, thus joining the great like Sir Don Bradman who in his 29 Test hundreds never failed to convert the fifties into a century.

During the last three years, Younis indeed has become much more prolific, at times reaching Bradmanasque proportions with consecutive hundreds against Australia in 2014.

Much now will depend on our bowlers and fielders to take advantage because the pressure is certainly telling on England.

Published in Dawn, August 14th, 2016