Yousuf, Younis rewrite batting records

Leeds: Mohammad Yousuf and Younis Khan shredded the record books with a 363-run stand against England on the third day of the third Test on Sunday.

Yousuf fell just eight runs of completing the fifth double century of his Test career while Younis was run out for 173.

The home side, however, bounced back with three wickets for four runs in 10 balls just before tea, including that of Inzamam-ul-Haq hit-wicket, to leave the touring side on 451 for six in reply to England's first innings of 515.

Yousuf and Younis, who had come together on 36 for two, batted five and three quarter hours together as they deflated, demoralised and then totally dismantled the England attack, at the same time keeping alive the outside possibility of a Pakistan victory.

England lead the four-match series 1-0.

Yousuf, who made 223 against England in Lahore at the end of last year and 202 at Lord's earlier in this series, made the most of Saturday's reprieve when he was dropped on five to serve up a scintillating display of strokeplay.

In all, he scored 112 in boundaries -- 25 fours and two sixes. Younis came close to matching him, shot for shot.

The main feature of the two right-handers' play was some sublime straight driving, although that also underlined the flatness of the Headingley pitch.

England's bowlers, however, did not help themselves with a lifeless display.

Within the first hour Matthew Hoggard, failing to find any movement in the air or off the pitch, was bowling without a single slip.

Neither he nor Steve Harmison and Sajid Mahmood seemed capable of mixing up their pace or surprising the batsmen with the occasional yorker.

All the morning highlights, which saw Pakistan move on from 202 for two to 331 without further loss, came from the batsmen.

Yousuf provided the first, guiding a delivery from Harmison to the point boundary to get to 96 and then hooking him for six.

It was his 18th Test century and his fifth against his favourite opponents.

He took just under three hours to get there, having hit 11 fours and two maximums in his 145 deliveries.

Younis took a little longer -- four and a quarter hours -- to match his team mate and record his 12th Test century.

At times the pair were hard to tell apart, playing the ball late and with such elegance that the Yorkshire crowd was soon reduced to mute admiration.

Until the dramatic finale, the afternoon session was as one-sided as the morning as the records tumbled.

First the duo posted Pakistan's highest third-wicket partnership against England then, by getting past the 322 of Salim Malik and Javed Miandad at Edgbaston in 1992, they made it Pakistan's best stand for any wicket against their hosts.

By the end, they also boasted the highest third-wicket stand against England by any team, overhauling the 338 compiled by Everton Weekes and Frank Worrell for West Indies in Port of Spain in 1953-54.

Such was their domination that there seemed every possibility of them threatening the 451 put on by Bill Ponsford and Don Bradman in 1938, the highest stand of all time recorded against England.

Yousuf, however, suddenly appeared to become bored. When left-arm spinner Monty Panesar was brought on for another crack at him, Yousuf lashed out lazily.

The ball still went for four, streaking off an inside edge to mid-wicket, but it signalled his end. Moments later he swatted at a Harmison lifter and was caught behind down the leg side off the glove. He had faced 261 balls.

Younis probably gave in to weariness as he was run out by a direct throw from Mahmood when Inzamam called him for a sharp single and, next ball, Paul Collingwood trapped Faisal Iqbal for a golden duck.

Comically, Inzamam then swept at Panesar, lost his balance and fell onto the top of his stumps to provoke the biggest roar of the day from the Headingley crowd.