Cricket - England vs Pakistan: Mohammad Yousuf shows England why he was recalled with gripping half-century

In the second session of play at the Oval today Mohammad Yousuf showed England why Pakistan recalled him from retirement (and a life ban which has been quietly forgotten).

After lunch Pakistan were at 110/4 with Yousuf and Azhar Ali at the crease, the visitors needed only 123 more runs to catch up with England's first innings total of 233.

Much of the session was dominated by the batsmen who continually frustrated England's bowlers. In a splendid innings Yousuf hit ten fours, scoring a total of 56, despite not playing test cricket since March.

He was finally taken out by Graeme Swann, who made Yousef his hundredth test wicket by catching and bowling him after the Muslim-convert attempted a drive through cover.

Ali continued in good form hitting 40 before tea, while his partner Umar Akmal also made an impression scoring 22 off 30 balls, with two fours and a six.

By tea Pakistan were 212/5 and just 18 runs behind England's first innings total.