by Our Sports Desk

SARFRAZ AHMED’S explosive century lifted Pakistan to an imposing total yesterday but David Warner wrested back some of the momentum for Australia on day two of the first Test in Dubai.

Sarfraz needed just 80 balls to bring up his ton and, although he was out shortly afterwards for 109, his efforts following earlier half-centuries from Misbah-ul-Haq and Asad Shafiq lifted the default hosts to 454 all out.

Yet they did not have it all their own way as Australia closed on 113 without loss, with Warner’s impressive 75 off just 77 balls helping to make significant inroads on a pitch offering plenty of turn for the spinners.

It was Warner’s sixth successive score of 50 or more in Tests and leaves the game finely poised, as it had been after the opening day’s play.

Pakistan, resuming on 219 for four, had been watchful for much of Wednesday but Younis Khan’s century gave the middle order a platform to be more attacking and it was one they did not waste.

Shafiq was given a let off in the second over of the day, however, when his inside edge off Nathan Lyon was dropped by Alex Doolan at short-leg.

It proved a costly drop with Misbah launching Lyon for six in the same over and it was a session to forget for the off-spinner, who went at five an over in his opening spell despite conditions being in his favour.

The batsmen’s efforts had firmly put Pakistan in the driving seat before Chris Rogers and, in particular, Warner brought Australia back into the game with an unbroken century stand.

However the veteran Rogers struggled to get to grips with the spin of Mohammad Hafeez and was dropped on 13 by Younis at first slip off Zulfiqar Babar.