OTD | Hanif Mohammad batted for over 16 hours, or nearly 11 football matches, to save Pakistan’s first Test against West Indies in 1958

It’s more than half a century ago, 66 years back on this day (January 23) in 1958. The day ended up being registered in the name of former Pakistan batting legend Hanif Mohammad in the history books. Hanif pulled a historic draw and saved the game in Pakistan’s favour when the team was completely struggling against West Indies in Bridgetown. 

On the back of Conrad Hunte and Everton Weekes’ brilliant centuries, West Indies posted a mammoth total of 579 runs for the loss of 9 wickets before declaring their first innings. Later, the bowling attack of the hosts bundled out Pakistan at the score of just 106 runs in their first innings. 

Abdul Kardar’s men were forced to play the follow-on by the West Indies. Then came the sensational and one of the all-time great Test innings played by legendary Pak opener Hanif Mohammad. 

When Hanif Mohammad won the ‘race against time’ 

Hanif took the ground firmly for Pakistan and stood like a wall against the Caribbean bowling attack. He stayed there in the middle for 970 minutes, more than 16 hours. This period is calculated to the time of 11 football matches. He played the unforgettable knock of 337 runs to save the game for Pakistan and force West Indies to bat again in the fourth innings for the run-chase of 185-run target. 

Besides Hanif Mohammad, his opening mate, Imtiaz Ahmed also scored 91 runs followed by number four batter Saeed Ahmed’s 65 runs and 37 runs scored by number three batter Alimuddin. On the back of these knocks, Pakistan managed to post a mammoth total of 657 runs for the loss of 8 wickets before declaring the innings. 

West Indies were given the target of 185 runs to chase in the fourth innings but eventually, the game ended in a draw as the hosts could score only 28 runs for no loss during their run-chase. 

However, Pakistan lost the five-match Test series by 1-3 but this ‘drawn’ Test match is still remembered as one of the highlights of this Pakistan vs West Indies series.

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