New Delhi:
After a dismal performance in the first innings of the Karachi Test against Sri Lanka, Pakistan's batsmen put up a brilliant performance as the top order scored plenty of runs to put the side on top against Sri Lanka on day 4 of the ICC World Test Championship clash at the National Stadium. Abid Ali created history on day 3 as he became the first Pakistan player and eighth overall to hit a century in two consecutive Tests. Abid was given great assistance by Shan Masood and the duo shared a 278-run stand.
Masood notched up his second century as Sri Lanka were slowly batted out of the contest. After the exploits of Masood and Abid, Pakistan skipper Azhar Ali and their star batsman in Babar Azam piled on the agony. Azhar and Babar found the boundary on a regular basis and the skipper notched up a fine century. In the quest for quick runs, Babar notched up his second consecutive century and his fourth overall as Pakistan declared on 555/3.
This was the second time in the history of Test cricket that the top four batsmen had scored centuries. The first team to achieve the feat was India during the Bangladesh Test match in Chattogram in 2007. Dinesh Karthik, Wasim Jaffer, Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar all scored centuries as India reached 610/3 declared. Zaheer Khan took five wickets in the first innings and a combined effort from the bowlers helped India achieve a massive victory.
Karthik and Jaffer notched up a big stand but Jaffer retired hurt due to illness. Dravid joined Karthik but even Karthik retired hurt. Dravid fell for 129 and Jaffer came back with Karthik only for Jaffer to retire ill once again due to the high humidity. Karthik fell for 129 and Tendulkar ensured that his 122 and a blitz from MS Dhoni helped India get past 600. There has been one more instance in which four batsmen have scored centuries in a Test match.
During the Australia vs New Zealand Test in Perth in 2001, Lou Vincent scored a century on debut and he was well assisted by Stephen Fleming who chipped in with 105. Nathan Astle was at his destructive best with 156 and Adam Parore's century helped New Zealand reach 534/9 declared. Damien Martyn, Justin Langer and Shane Warne hit fifties, with Warne missing his maiden ton by one run.
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New Zealand set Australia a target of 440 and despite fifties from Mark and Steve Waugh, Adam Gilchrist and Matthew Hayden, the match ended in a draw. The efforts of the Pakistani batsmen have ensured that the team goes a long way in breaking their 27-year jinx against Sri Lanka at home.
