Yousuf heroics put Pakistan in charge

12 April 2012

Pakistan are well on course for victory after Mohammad Yousuf's heroics on a record-breaking fourth day of the third Test against West Indies in Karachi.

Yousuf, who became the highest run scorer in a calendar year en route to a knock of 124, helped give the hosts a lead of 443 before they declared on 399 for six. The tourists offered little sign of being up to the run chase, and lost two quick wickets before bad light forced an early conclusion with the score on 39 for two.

In the morning session, Yousuf moved past Viv Richards' 30-year-old mark of 1,710 runs to break one of cricket's longest-standing records. Taking advantage of twice being dropped by West Indian fielders - first by Daren Ganga while on 68 and then by Jerome Taylor on 87 - Yousuf went on to complete his ninth Test century of the year.

Richards reached his landmark over the course of 11 Tests in 1976 and the Karachi Test is Yousuf's 11th of 2006. He was eventually out when he tried to sweep a Ramnaresh Sarwan delivery but was bowled around his stumps.

Pakistan started the day on 130 for two and added 111 runs without loss by lunch. The only wicket to fall in the afternoon session came when Mohammad Hafeez, who went for 104 in the 93rd over, was caught behind by Denesh Ramdin off Taylor. Just moments before he was dropped in the slips by Dwayne Bravo off Daren Powell's bowling, but he added only one run before succumbing.

Soon after, Yousuf completed his century, which came off 145 balls and contained 14 fours. In addition to Richards' record, Yousuf has also broken the one held by Zaheer Abbas for the most runs made by a Pakistani batsman in a three-Test series. Abbas made 583 in Tests against India in 1978-79, a mark surpassed by Yousuf with his 43rd run of this innings.

After Yousuf's departure, two more wickets fell before Pakistan's declaration. Corey Collymore removed Shoaib Malik for 10, the ball finding a big gap between bat and pad to take the middle stump.

Abdul Razzaq then went for a big shot off Sarwan but succeeded only in finding Chris Gayle at long-on to depart for 10. Captain Inzamam-ul-Haq was unbeaten on 58.

The Windies' reply got off to a terrible start when Umar Gul claimed the crucial wicket of Gayle with only the second ball of the innings, an inside edge sending the opener back to the pavilion for two.

With the score on 17, Gayle's opening partner Ganga joined him in the pavilion after being trapped lbw by Shahid Nazir, also for two. Captain Brian Lara was unbeaten on 18 while Sarwan had 11 at the close.

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