Yousuf misses double ton in draw with Windies

MULTAN (Reuters) Pakistan's Mohammad Yousuf missed a double century by nine runs as the second test against West Indies ended in a high-scoring draw on today's final day.

Yousuf made 191, his seventh hundred this year, putting on 152 runs for the sixth wicket with Abdul Razzaq, who was out for 80, as Pakistan reached 461 for seven before play was called off after tea.

Both fell in identical fashion to casual shots in the final session, caught by Shivnarine Chanderpaul at short mid-wicket off left arm spinner Dave Mohammed.

Razzaq hit eight fours and one six in his 117-ball knock for his seventh half century while Yousuf faced 344 balls and hit 21 fours in his 424 minutes knock.

Pakistan lead the three-match series 1-0 after a nine-wicket win in the first test in Lahore.

Pakistan made 357 in their first innings in the drawn test before skipper Brian Lara scored a magnificent 216 to spearhead a reply of 591.

Yousuf, who was 176 at tea, also missed a double hundred in Lahore by eight runs.

He completed his 21st career century and joined West Indian Viv Richards and Sri Lankan Aravinda de Silva in the elite list of batsmen who have hit seven hundreds in a calendar year.

His 1562 runs in 10 tests in the year are second to Richards 1710 runs in 11 matches in 1976.

Before this year, Yousuf had scored 14 hundreds in seven years of international cricket.

UNDER PRESSURE Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq was satisfied with the result as his team were under pressure even at lunch to save the test.

''We didn't have a big lead. I was worried. But Yousuf played brilliantly and took control,'' he said.

''I rate him as one of the top three batsmen in the world today.

It is not easy to score seven hundreds in a year on any sort of wicket,'' Inzamam added.

Yousuf played with more freedom in the final two sessions after surviving a dropped chance on 108 off Darren Powell and at least two very close leg before appeals from Jerome Taylor and Corey Collymore in the morning.

The West Indian pacers bowled a probing spell with the second new ball when they looked like running through the home side.

Razzaq, whose place was in doubt for the final test of the series after just two half centuries and 56 wickets in his last 25 tests, provided Yousuf with great support after Pakistan lost three wickets before lunch.

West Indies started the day hoping for an upset victory with Pakistan on 212 for two, still 21 runs in arrears.

When Imran Farhat (76), Inzamam-ul-Haq (10) and Shoaib Malik (4) fell before lunch there was a faint chance of the visitors being able to chase a reachable total on the flat batting track.

However, Yousuf and Razzaq dented those hopes with their stand. Pakistan led by 227 runs when the match ended.

West Indies skipper Brian Lara said he was happy with the result after the defeat in Lahore.

''I thought we were in a commanding position until the fifth day and I can't fault the bowlers on such a good batting track.'' REUTERS SAM BST1823