The middle-order batsman scored an unbeaten 84 to help his team reach 185-4 in the first innings at stumps on the second day in reply to England's modest 288 all out.

Nightwatchman Shoaib Akhtar had yet to open his account when bad light stopped play with 19 overs remaining.

Yousuf played a key role in propping up the innings after paceman Matthew Hoggard had claimed two early wickets to reduce Pakistan to 12-2 in less than five overs.

He added 56 for the third wicket with Salman Butt (28) and 80 for the next with skipper Inzamamul Haq (35), who retired hurt after being struck on the right wrist while fending off a rising ball from paceman Steve Harmison.

Yousuf, dropped by Ashes hero Andrew Flintoff in the slips off Harmison when on 18, made the most of the opportunity to reach his 24th Test half-century. He has so far hit 14 fours in his 149-ball knock.

Yousuf, who converted to Islam three months ago, said his main task would be to bat another day.

"We lost some quick wickets, so my staying in the middle was important. Harmison bowled at a lively pace and this was the most hostile bowling I have faced after facing West Indian Courtney Walsh in 2000," said Yousuf.

"We need to take at least a 150-run lead and for that Inzamam and I need to bat longer."

England, trailing 1-0 in the series after losing the first Test at Multan by 22 runs, had put Pakistan under pressure with two quick wickets before being thwarted by Yousuf.

Pakistan lost Shoaib Malik for a duck in the first over as the opener mistimed an on-drive off Hoggard and was caught by debutant Liam Plunkett at mid-wicket.

Hoggard struck again with the first ball of his third over when he trapped Asim Kamal lbw for five.

Butt, who had scored two half-centuries and a hundred in the first two Tests, edged an out-swinging delivery to wicketkeeper Geraint Jones to become seamer Plunkett's first Test victim.

Middle-order batsman Hasan Raza, who got a second chance after failing in the first Test, hit four boundaries before edging a Harmison's delivery to Flintoff at third slip. He contributed 21.

Harmison said England were unlucky not to get more wickets.

"We bowled to our best ability and deserved more wickets than we got. Plunkett was a bit nervous when he went out to bat and more nervous when he bowled but he improved with every over and lived up to the task," he said.

England earlier added 40 runs to their overnight total of 248-6 before being bowled out in the morning session.

All-rounder Paul Collingwood, 71 overnight, missed his maiden Test century by just four runs as he hooked fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar to Danish Kaneria at deep fine-leg. His career-best 96 contained 15 fours.