Record-breaking Yousuf leads Pakistan to big lead

KARACHI, Nov 30 (Reuters) Mohammad Yousuf established a new batting record and Mohammad Hafeez closed in on his second century as Pakistan took firm control of the third and final test against West Indies today.

Resuming on 130 for two, Yousuf (78) and Hafeez (85) put on an unbeaten 119 runs for the third wicket to stretch their total to a commanding 241-2 at lunch on the fourth day.

Leading the three-match series 1-0, Pakistan have an overall lead of 285 runs with five sessions remaining and appear well on course for a series victory.

Yousuf, who resumed on one, took 67 balls to pass the world record for most test runs in a calendar year, beating the 1,710 scored by West Indian Viv Richards in 1976 when he belted Corey Collymore through mid-on for a four to reach 47.

He moved on to his 27th fifty from 68 balls with nine fours and ended the session on 1,742 runs in 11 matches this year.

On the first day of the match, Yousuf also broke the record for the most hundreds in a year, moving clear of Richards and Sri Lankan Aravinda de Silva when he scored his eighth century of 2006.

During the course of his innings, Yousuf also established a new record for the highest aggregate in a three-match series, surpassing the previous best of 583 runs held by compatriot Zaheer Abbas since in a home series against India in 1978.

Rattled early on, Yousuf settled down to play some magnificent shots as he took the bowling apart with 12 fours in his 91-ball knock.

Hafeez, who resumed on 57, was overshadowed by Yousuf's records but was also in fine form, facing 231 balls and getting seven boundaries with a series of neat shots on both sides of the wicket.

With the pitch getting slower and flatter, the visiting bowlers struggled to put pressure on the batsmen as the runs flowed.

Out of frustration, skipper Brian Lara turned to senior batsmen Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Ramnaresh Sarwan to bowl their part-time leg-spinners.

Yousuf was dropped on 68 at deep mid-wicket by Daren Ganga off Sarwan and in the same over hit the bowler for 14 runs.

REUTERS PM PM1403