Younis, Farhat take Pakistan fight to Windies

MULTAN, Nov 22 (Reuters) Younis Khan and Imran Farhat led Pakistan's fightback to save the second test after West Indies captain Brian Lara had completed his ninth double hundred today in guiding the tourists to a big first innings lead.

Younis (55) and Farhat (45) built an unbeaten partnership of 99 runs for the second wicket to take the hosts to 123 for one at tea on the fourth day, still 111 runs behind with four sessions remaining in the test.

Opener Mohammad Hafeez was the only wicket to fall in the afternoon, bowled by Jerome Taylor for 18 with the score on 24.

Leading the three-match series 1-0 after last week's nine-wicket win in Lahore, Pakistan began their battle to save the test 50 minutes before lunch after Lara led his team to an imposing total of 591, a lead of 234 runs.

Lara scored 216 as Pakistan picked up the last five wickets for 82 runs in the morning session, leg spinner Danish Kaneria finishing with 5-181 for his 12th five-wicket haul.

Younis was in sparkling form following up on his first innings 56 with an aggressive knock that changed the tempo of the home side's second innings after the bowlers had pegged down the batsmen.

The left-handed Farhat also opened up to play some fine shots, including three swept fours on the off-side in one Chris Gayle over.

Before Younis came in to bat, pacemen Taylor and Daren Powell had bowled with precision to keep the scoring rate low and the pressure paid off when Hafeez was dismissed in the 15th over.

Younis then raced to his 17th test fifty with a streaky inside edge off Dwayne Bravo down to fine leg to also take him past 4,000 runs in his 49th game.

His half century included six fours and came from 66 balls.

Earlier, Lara resumed on 196 with the West Indies on 509-5 and needed 11 more balls to complete his double hundred.

He has now scored four hundreds in his last four tests against Pakistan and 34 tons in 130 appearances.

The elegant left-hander batted for 383 minutes and 241 balls before driving pacer Umar Gul through the off-side for three runs to reach his milestone.

Kaneria who was savaged by Lara on the third day, having conceded 60 runs from 29 balls in one forgettable spell, got his revenge when he had Lara caught at wide long-on by Shoaib Malik.

REUTERS RL BD1546