London: Asad Shafiq and Younis Khan made gritty centuries to lift Pakistan to 340 for six as England’s bowlers toiled in perfect batting conditions on the second day of the final Test at The Oval.

Shafiq scored 109 and shared a fourth-wicket partnership of 150 with Younis to lay the foundation for a big first-innings total for the visiting side as they need to win the match to level the series 2-2.

Pakistan, replying to the home team’s 328, lost only the wicket of night-watchman Yasir Shah in the morning session as England dropped three catches. Spilled by Alex Hales in gully off Chris Woakes, Shah fell for 26 when he edged a rising delivery from Steven Finn to Joe Root at second slip.

Finn put down a straightforward caught-and-bowled chance off Azhar Ali and Shafiq was dropped by James Anderson in the slips off Woakes on 24. Azhar moved on to 49 before he was caught off the glove by  Jonny Bairstow off Moeen Ali.

Shafiq claimed his ninth century, hitting two sixes and 12 fours.  

England
First innings 328 

Pakistan
First innings (Overnight 3/1)

A. Ali    c Bairstow b Ali    49
Y. Shah    c Root b Finn    26
A. Shafiq    c Broad b Finn    109
Y. Khan    batting    101
Misbah    c Hales b Woakes    15
I. Ahmed    c Ali b Woakes    4
S. Ahmed    batting    17
Extras (b-9, lb-3, w-2, nb-2)    16
Total (for 6 wickets in 91 overs)    340
Fall of wickets: 1/3, 2/52, 3/127, 4/277, 5/316, 6/320
Bowling: Anderson 19-6-58-0, Broad 19-5-59-1, Finn 19-1-71-2, Woakes 17-4-52-2, Moeen 16-0-83-1, Root 1-0-5-0
(At stumps, Day II)