Pakistan equal world record with 5 centuries
Pakistan equalled the world record of five centuries in an innings as the home batsmen continued to enjoy the run feast in the Asian Test Championship opener against minnows Bangladesh at the Multan Cricket Stadium Thursday
Samiul Hasan
31-Aug-2001
Pakistan equalled the world record of five centuries in an innings as
the home batsmen continued to enjoy the run feast in the Asian Test
Championship opener against minnows Bangladesh at the Multan Cricket
Stadium Thursday.
Centuries by Saeed Anwar (101), debutant Taufiq Umer (104), Inzamamul-Haq (105), Yousuf Youhana (102) and Abdur Razzaq (110) carried
Pakistan from an overnight 219 for two to 546 for three declared in
reply to Bangladesh's modest 134.
Bangladesh, left to play for pride after trailing the home team by 412
runs on first innings, had limped to 55 for three when curtains were
drawn for the second day's play.
Pakistan secured maximum batting (four) and bowling (four) points
awarded on the first 100 overs of the first innings while Bangladesh
failed to get any. An expected victory by an innings would earn
Pakistan 16 more points.
Pakistan equalled Australia's 46-year-old record when five of their
batsmen scored centuries in the 1954-55 Test against the West Indies
at Kingston, Jamaica. Had Pakistan skipper Waqar Younis not declared
immediately after the 27-year-old Youhana guided Mohammad Sharif
towards third man boundary to bring up his seventh century in 34th
Test, Pakistan might have gone on to establish a new record.
Around 15,000 festive and appreciative spectators had their money
worth when they were thoroughly entertained by high quality and
ruthless batting display by the elegant Pakistanis against a
pedestrian, inexperienced and mediocre Bangladesh bowling resources.
However, local hero Inzamam was not that fortunate when he had to
retire hurt because of dehydration a ball after completing his 15th
Test century in 75th Test.
But Inzamam's return to the dressing room piled up more agony on the
tourists as Abdur Razzaq virtually blew them away with a whirlwind
unbeaten century. The batting all-rounder scored 110 off 100 balls
with 16 boundaries and three sixes during his 124-minute vigil at the
crease.
Razzaq, who came when Youhana was batting on 60, raced to 70 against
Youhana's 77 at tea in Pakistan's 478 for three before registering his
second career century off 92 balls with 14 boundaries and three sixes.
It was the second quickest century by a Pakistani after Majid Khan
whipped a 74-ball century before lunch against New Zealand at Karachi
in 1976-77. Sir Vivian Richards holds the record for quickest century
when he reached three figures off just 56 balls against England at St
John's in 1985-86.
Youhana was as elegant as ever and remained cool and composed despite
watching Razzaq murder the Bangladesh bowlers from the other end. His
innings contained 13 exquisitely timed boundaries from 154 balls faced
during 220 minutes of batting.
Youhana and Razzaq added 165 runs in 124 minutes after the former and
Inzamam had put on 123 in 116 minutes. Inzamam and Taufiq Umer put on
80 in 88 minutes for the third wicket.
Inzamam, the 31-year-old burly right-hander, fulfilled his promise of
enthralling his home crowd when he laced his 105-ball innings with 15
boundaries and a six. Inzamam now has century against every country
except South Africa and India.
Interestingly, it was Inzamam's fourth century only on home turf. The
other notable point is that 11 of his centuries have come in the
crucial first innings while eight centuries have helped Pakistan win
Tests.
On a record-breaking day, Taufiq Umer became the eighth Pakistan
batsman after Khalid Ibadullah, Javed Miandad, Salim Malik, Mohammad
Wasim, Ali Naqvi, Azhar Mahmood and Younis Khan to score century on
debut. He had started the day at 77 and was the only Pakistan wicket
to fall when he was caught at the wicket after an attractive 104.
Taufiq, the 20-year-old from Lahore, now has five first-class
centuries in 33 matches. He batted for 231 minutes and punctuated 15
boundaries in his 163-ball innings.
Taufiq showed excellent temperament, concentration and showed no signs
of nervousness when he stayed in the 90s for 19 balls, including 13
balls on 96. Unfortunately, his brilliant effort fell in the
background after Pakistan stroke-makers went on a run-scoring spree.