At tea, on the third day of the first Test, Pakistan were 291 for five in reply to England's first innings 528 for nine declared - just 38 runs shy of avoiding the follow-on.

Yousuf was 132 not out, a chanceless innings, and Abdul Razzaq 21 not out, the pair's partnership currently worth fifty.

Together with Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq (69), Yousuf shared a fifth-wicket stand of 173 in 42 overs which featured some of the best batting seen so far in this opening match of a four-Test series.

At lunch, Pakistan's senior batsmen had taken their side to 165 for four after they had been struggling at 68 for four.

Yousuf was 66 not out and Inzamam, dropped early in his innings, 44 not out.

Shortly afterwards, Inzamam completed an 89-ball fifty with seven fours.

Inzamam then played a superb stroke to whip a delivery from fast bowler Stephen Harmison that pitched outside off-stump through mid-wicket for four.

Not to be outdone, Yousuf brought up Pakistan's 200 by going down on one knee and stylishly driving Harmison's fellow Durham quick Liam Plunkett to the cover boundary.

England had eight of their Ashes-winning squad from last year on the field but there was no denying how they missed injured reverse-swing specialist Simon Jones (knee) and pace bowling all-rounder Andrew Flintoff (ankle).

Collingwood, who'd made a Test-best 186 on Friday, was brought on by acting captain Andrew Strauss, leading the side in Flintoff's absence.

But Yousuf responded by guiding the medium-pacer's first ball to the third man boundary as he reached a 157 ball hundred with his 15th four.

It was the 31-year-old's 17th Test century and fourth against England.

However, a surprising misjudgment from Inzamam, jumping across his crease to turn Plunkett legside, saw him bowled after exposing his stumps to leave Pakistan 241 for five.

But an undaunted Yousuf subsequently lofted left-arm spinner Monty Panesar for a casual straight six.

Pakistan resumed Saturday on 66 for three, Yousuf 20 not out, after Harmison had taken two quick wickets on Friday following hundreds by Collingwood, Alastair Cook (105) and Ian Bell (100 not out) against an injury-hit attack whose plight was made worse by several dropped catches.

Nightwatchman Mohammad Sami fell for his overnight nought when he was caught behind off Matthew Hoggard, the Yorkshire seamer included despite injuring his bowling hand in a warm-up accident during England A's match against Pakistan last week.

Sami's exit meant Pakistan, also without crocked batsmen Shoaib Malik (elbow) and vice-captain Younis Khan (knee), now had senior strokeplayers Yousuf and Inzamam in together on a good pitch.

Inzamam got of the mark with an off-driven four against Hoggard before Yousuf treated a packed crowd, enjoying blues skies on a hot day, to a flourishing, wristy, cover-driven boundary off Harmison.

Plunkett, who'd removed opener Imran Farhat late on Friday, almost dismissed Inzamam for 17. But leaping first slip Marcus Trescothick was unable to hold the difficult one-handed chance.