Imran Farhat and Mohammad Yousuf led Pakistan's efforts to avoid defeat in the second cricket Test Wednesday after West Indian captain Brian Lara hit an epic double century at Multan stadium.

Opener Farhat with 71 not out, Yousuf unbeaten on 56 and Younis Khan with 56 boosted Pakistan's hopes of salvaging a result as the home team finished the fourth day on 213-2. They still need 21 runs to avoid an innings defeat.

Earlier West Indies added 82 runs to their overnight total with Lara scoring a masterly 216 to help the tourists score 591 runs in the first-innings.

The West Indies, who trail the three-match series 1-0 after they lost the first Test by nine wickets in Lahore last week, gained a healthy 234-run lead.

Farhat put on an invaluable 89 runs for the unbroken third wicket stand with Yousuf and 100 runs for the second wicket with Younis after Pakistan lost opener Mohammad Hafeez (18) early in their innings.

Stylish left-hander Farhat held the innings together with nine boundaries during his 279-minute stay at the crease. Yousuf, who survived a confident leg-before appeal off fast bowler Jerome Taylor on 51, has so far hit eight fours.

Younis hit fast bowler Dwayne Bravo for his sixth boundary to race to his second half-century in the match and also completed his 4,000 runs in 49 Tests. He is the tenth Pakistani batsmen to achieve the milestone.

But he fell in the second over after tea, edging left-armer Dave Mohammed to wicket-keeper Denesh Mohammed after scoring 56. He hit seven boundaries during his 75-ball knock.

Pakistan could have been in more trouble had Shivnarine Chanderpaul not dropped a sharp chance at cover when Farhat failed to keep a drive off Dwayne Bravo down, when the batsman was 45.

Yousuf, when on 15, became the third Pakistani batsmen behind Javed Miandad (8832) and Inzamam-ul-Haq (8529) to score 6,000 Test runs in his 72 Tests. He raced to his fifty with seven boundaries and ensured Pakistan's recovery from early loss.

Taylor provided the West Indies an early breakthrough when he bowled Hafeez to strengthen the West Indies' grip over the match after Lara's heroics.

During the innings, Lara surpassed legendary Australian batsman Don Bradman's record of 18 scores of 150 and above and came within 96 runs of becoming the first man to score 12,000 runs in Test cricket.

The West Indies innings was the highest total they have ever scored against Pakistan in Pakistan, surpassing the 493 they racked up in Karachi in 1974.

Lara, 196 overnight, took a single and then drove fast bowler Umar Gul through the covers for three runs to complete his career's ninth double hundred.

His double century came off 241 balls and contained 21 boundaries and seven sixes. He hit another boundary off Gul before holing out at long-on, where Shoaib Malik took a straightforward catch off leg-spinner Danish Kaneria.

Lara's innings of complete authority and grit lasted 262 balls, or 432 minutes.

Kaneria, who was hit around the park by Lara on Tuesday, finished with 5-181.

The tourists lost Denesh Ramdin to fast bowler Shahid Nazir for 11 after they resumed the day at 509-5 before Kaneria got into the act with Lara's prized scalp and then removed Dave Mohammed for 36.

Razzaq took the last two wickets to finish with 2-65.

(Article: Copyright © 2006 AFP)