Pakistan v Australia: Younus Khan hits third successive Test century

Younus Khan became the second man to score three consecutive Test centuries against Australia as Pakistan made 304-2 on the opening day of the final Test.

The 36-year-old, in his 93rd Test, was unbeaten on 111, his 27th Test hundred.

He shared an unbroken stand of 208 with Azhar Ali (101) as Pakistan, who won the first Test by 221 runs, started well after opting to bat in Abu Dhabi.

Englishman Herbert Sutcliffe in 1924-25 is the only other batsman to compile three in a row against the Australians.

Sri Lankan Kumar Sangakkara struck three successive tons against different opposition on three separate occasions, while Australian Jack Fingleton, South African Alan Melville and India's Rahul Dravid all scored four in a row.

West Indian Everton Weekes holds the Test record with five consecutive hundreds in 1948.

Australia, seeking to avert a first Test series defeat against Pakistan since 1994, made two changes, bringing in left-arm paceman Mitchell Starc for left-arm spinner Steve O'Keefe and off-spinning all-rounder Glenn Maxwell for number three batsman Alex Doolan.

The dry and slow surface at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium did not offer much assistance to the quicker bowlers but spinner Nathan Lyon, who had earlier seen Ahmed Shehzad dropped by wicketkeeper Brad Haddin on 23, trapped the opener lbw on the back foot for 35 in the 18th over.

Paceman Mitchell Johnson dismissed Mohammed Hafeez (45) with an angled delivery across the right-hander after lunch.

But it proved to be Australia's final success of the day as Younus, who holds the Pakistan Test record for number of centuries, dominated the remaining 53.4 overs, ably supported by the assured Azhar.

Younus used his feet to good effect, launching Lyon over wide long-on for the only six of the day; Azhar completed his sixth Test century in his 36th match and the pair ran 18 threes during their third-wicket partnership.