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DUBAI: Pakistan opener Mohammad Hafeez missed a century by just 12 runs on the second day of the first Test against England here on Wednesday, but still managed to ease his side into the lead.
Hafeez hit an attractive 88 during his resolute 114-run opening stand with Taufiq Umar (58) to help Pakistan overhaul England's first innings total of 192 on a slow turning pitch.
Pakistan went to tea at 213-4, with skipper Misbah-ul Haq on an unbeaten 19 and with him Asad Shafiq on five not out. That gave them a lead of 21 runs.
Pakistan lost the crucial wicket of Younis Khan (37) on the stroke of tea when the experienced batsman offered no stroke to Jonathan Trott's incoming delivery and was adjudged leg-before by New Zealand umpire Billy Bowden.
It was paceman Stuart Broad who gave England the breakthrough after the Pakistani openers, resuming at 42-0, played out the first 90 minutes without being separated.
Broad bowled Umar with a beautiful delivery which held its line and hit the off-stump, just one ball after Chris Tremlett dropped Hafeez off a miscued hook which resulted in a single.
Umar hit ten boundaries in his 58 and was sedate during his 113-ball stay at the crease. Three overs later, Broad swung one away from Azhar Ali and had him caught behind by wicket-keeper Matt Prior, much to the jubilation of his team-mates. Ali made just one.
It could have been a more fruitful morning session for England had they been at their best in fielding.
Ian Bell failed to hit the stumps when Hafeez, batting on 44, ran for a single after pushing Tremlett to square-leg and was well short of his crease after being sent back by Umar.
It was Umar who reached his fifty first, hitting Swann for two consecutive boundaries to complete his 13th Test half-century. Hafeez reached his seventh with a single off Tremlett.
England's off-spinner Graeme Swann finally dismissed Hafeez with a full pitched delivery as the batsmen missed a sweep. Hafees hit eleven boundaries and a six during his solid 164-ball knock.
