A great year

Run-machine Mohammad Yousuf hit a world record eighth century in a calendar year to anchor Pakistan’s innings in the third and final cricket Test against the West Indies in Karachi today.

Run-machine Mohammad Yousuf hit a world record eighth century in a calendar year to anchor Pakistan’s innings in the third and final cricket Test against the West Indies in Karachi today.

The prolific 32-year-old batsman scored 102 before Corey Collymore trapped him leg-before with a straight ball that kept low on a flat, grassless pitch at the National Stadium. Kamran Akmal (18) and Shahid Nazir (0) were at the crease when bad light stopped play two overs early, with Pakistan on 257-7 after failing to take advantage of winning the toss.

Yousuf broke the record of seven centuries in a year jointly held by West Indian Vivian Richards and Aravinda de Silva of Sri Lanka. Richards achieved the feat in 1976 when he also scored the most runs in a calendar year — 1,710 in 11 Tests.

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Yousuf fell 47 runs short of overhauling Richards’ other record but has one more innings in this Test, Pakistan’s only one left this year, to break it. He brought up his 22nd Test century by driving Daren Powell to mid-wicket for three while on 99. His innings lasted 155 balls and 230 minutes and he hit 15 boundaries.

Yousuf, who converted from Christianity to Islam last year, played down his achievements.

“I have broken one of Richards’ many records but he was the greatest batsman of this century and I can’t match his shots,” he said, adding that he was also inspired by Pakistani great Javed Miandad.

“I am thankful to the Almighty that I am able to beat records and my name is bracketed with the greats of the game. I want to score runs whenever my team needs them from me.”