Youhana and Younis clobber centuries

Yousuf Youhana and Younis Khan hit strokeful centuries as Pakistan feasted on Bangladesh's mediocre attack in the second and final cricket Test here Thursday.

Youhana was unbeaten on 174 and Younis made 119 as Pakistan, replying to Bangladesh's meagre 148, ran up 429-7 in their first innings at stumps on the second day.

Saqlain Mushtaq was keeping Youhana company on seven when stumps were drawn at the M.A. Aziz Stadium here.

Pakistan, leading by 281 runs with three wickets in hand, are set to wrap up the match in quick time and sweep the short series 2-0.

While Younis's fourth Test century helped Pakistan consolidate at the start, Youhana ensured the tourists ended the day in total control.

Younis, 47 overnight, went on to strike 20 boundaries during his fourhour stay at the crease. He was joined in two useful partnerships of 87 for the second wicket with opener Taufiq Umer and 67 for the third with Inzamam-ul-Haq.

Younis was caught at mid-wicket by Mehrab Hossain off Fahim Muntasir when he failed to keep a drive down. But there was no respite for Bangladesh as Youhana batted more than two sessions untroubled by pace or spin.

The versatile middle-order batsman has so far hit 31 boundaries and a six in his 203-ball innings.

Seamer Mohammad Sharif and off-spinner Fahim Muntasir were the only bowlers to make an impression, sharing six wickets.

Muntasir, playing only his second Test, claimed his first Test victim when he had Inzamam caught at slip by Aminul Islam for 30.

Aminul had also caught Taufiq for 47 off Sharif, who later bowled Abdur Razzaq with a fine yorker.

Pakistan won both their previous Tests against Bangladesh by massive margins.