Pakistan were on the verge of their first series win over Australia in 20 years and victory in the second Test after skipper Misbah-ul-Haq rewrote the record books with his belligerent batting in Abu Dhabi
Misbah-ul Haq celebrates his 56-ball 100 in Abu Dhabi yesterday
Abu Dhabi: Pakistan were on the verge of their first series win over Australia in 20 years and victory in the second Test after skipper Misbah-ul-Haq rewrote the record books with his belligerent batting in Abu Dhabi yesterday.
Misbah-ul Haq celebrates his 56-ball 100 in Abu Dhabi yesterday. Pic/Getty Images
Misbah smashed a 56-ball hundred, equalling West Indian legend Viv Richards' record made against England at Antigua in 1986, minutes after breaking the mark for the fastest fifty which he made off just 21 balls.
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Misbah's stunning blitz set up Pakistan to declare their second innings at 293-3, setting a daunting 603-run target for Australia who suffered another batting collapse before reaching 143-4 at stumps on the fourth day.
Misbah said it was an honour to be bracketed with Richards. "I think it's the biggest honour for me," said Misbah. "I am no where near him (Richards) and scoring a hundred in as many deliveries as he did is something I will always remember in my life.
"I didn't know about the record of fastest hundred but someone from the team told me and I got to know it, its great to have this record."
Australia's woes with the bat continued as left-arm spinner Zulfiqar Babar (3-65) struck regular blows by dismissing Chris Rogers (two), Glenn Maxwell (four) and Michael Clarke (five) in 19 balls to leave Australia tottering at 43-3.
Clarke was beaten by a beautiful turner as the Australian captain pushed on the backfoot only to see his stumps disturbed. That summed up Clarke's miserable series with only 57 runs.
Twin tons
In all Misbah hit 11 boundaries and five sixes off 57 balls during his two centuries in the match, a blitz which overshadowed Azhar Ali's feat of 100 not out, making this only the second occasion in Test cricket's history when two batsmen scored a century in each innings in the same match.
Australian brothers Ian and Greg Chappell scored centuries in each innings against New Zealand at Wellington in 1973.
Brief scores
Pakistan 570-6 decl and 293-3 decl (Misbah-ul-Haq 101*, A Ali 100*; M Johnson 2-45) lead Australia 143-4 (D Warner 58; Z Babar 3-65) by 460 runs
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