"Younis Khan" hits fifty to lead Pakistan fightback

BANGALORE, India, Dec 10 (Reuters) - Younis Khan struck a masterly half century to steer Pakistan to a confident 180 for two at lunch on the third day of the third and final test against India on Monday.Younis, stand-in captain for injured Shoaib Malik, hit 62 and took his overnight second-wicket stand with Salman Butt (68) to 90 after the visitors resumed at 86 for one.Mohammad Yousuf (6) was at the wicket with Younis at lunch break.Saurav Ganguly and Irfan Pathan blasted their maiden double hundred and century respectively on Sunday after Yuvraj Singh smashed 169 to help hosts India post an imposing first-innings total of 626.India are 1-0 up in the series after winning the opening test by six wickets in New Delhi.Resuming at seven, Younis, who scored a century in the drawn second test in Kolkata, batted with controlled aggression for his 20th fifty.

The visitors still need 247 runs to avoid the follow-on.Younis and Butt, 50 overnight, drove left-armer Pathan freely for boundaries before Ganguly, bowling gentle medium-pace, struck half an hour before the break to dismiss left-handed Butt, who edged behind. The Indian attack looked largely ineffective on a placid pitch barring an inspired opening spell by the tall seamer Ishant Sharma, who got the ball to move and troubled Butt.Younis, who hit 10 fours, reverse swept off-spinner Harbhajan for a boundary and used his full reach to combat experienced leg spinner Anil Kumble.Yousuf looked tentative early but settled down quickly to dourly defend against the spinners, who operated with a minimum of two men in catching positions..