Failure key to Younis's success in third India Test by AFP

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Ground:	M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore
Scorecard:	India v Pakistan
Player:	Younis Khan
Event:	Pakistan in India 2004/05

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DateLine: 25th March 2005

 

Pakistan vice captain Younis Khan said failure in the previous innings spurred him on to score a maiden double-century in the third and final Test against India here.

 

"I was very angry with myself after failing in the second innings of the second Test at Calcutta," said Younis, who hammered a solid 267, the highest score by a visiting batsman in India.

 

Younis's epic knock surpassed the previous best of 256 by West Indies batsman Rohan Kanhai at Calcutta in 1958-59.

 

"I wanted to make amends and I'm happy I did exactly that," Younis said, referring to his first-ball dismissal on the fifth and final day of the Calcutta Test when Pakistan were chasing a huge 422-run target.

 

His early departure gave a huge advantage to India, who went on to win the match by 195 runs for a 1-0 lead in the three-Test series.

 

"Failures make you more responsible. Our defeat in the second Test made me realise that as a senior player I have a duty to perform," said Younis, who smashed 32 fours and one six during his 504-ball knock.

 

Younis shared a third-wicket stand of 324 with skipper Inzamam-ul-Haq (184) to help Pakistan post a huge total of 570 after they were struggling at 7-2 on Thursday.

 

"I was inspired by Inzamam, who kept telling me that we have to score big to level the series," said Younis, who also bettered his previous Test score of 153 against the West Indies at Sharjah in 2002.

 

The 27-year-old's score was the sixth-highest Test score by a Pakistani batsman, behind only Hanif Mohammad (337), Inzamam (329), Javed Miandad (280 not out and 271) and Zaheer Abbas (274).

 

Younis said a triple-century was never on his mind during his long stay at the crease.

 

"I never play for records," said Younis, who came in to bat in the match's second over on Thursday and got out only in the last session on Friday.

 

"We planned to give India seven-eight overs before the close of play, so I am not disappointed on not getting a triple hundred," said Younis.

 

"We need to capitalise on our big score and we can win this Test if we exploit the cracks on the pitch." he said.

(Article: Copyright © 2005 AFP)