After hitting a record-equalling third century in three Test innings against Australia, Younis Khan had nothing left.
The 36-year-old spent more than three sessions at the crease and passed the 150-mark, but there in the distance was the carrot of a fifth career double hundred.
Suddenly on Friday, unlike Thursday’s first day of play in the second Test against Australia in Abu Dhabi, more than 10,000 fans started to make themselves heard.
Friday is a day off for many workers and with a large Pakistan-born population in Abu Dhabi, plenty had made their way to Sheikh Zayed Stadium.
Azhar Ali and Younis Khan had made hundreds and skipper Misbah-ul-Haq was on his way to one as well.
“It was really amazing playing in front of my countrymen,” said Younis, who has broken Sachin Tendulkar’s record of most runs in a two-Test series against Australia.
“When I was between 160 and 170 my body started to go down and wasn’t responding much.
“But when I saw people coming into the stadium and there were many already so I just didn’t want to disappoint them and put my efforts back to score a double for them.”
Younis scored 213 in eight-and-a-half hours after his twin centuries in last week’s first Test in Dubai, which Pakistan won by 221 runs.
Younis on Friday became the third Pakistan batsman to score 8000 Test runs.
“I am not great, like Javed Miandad, Inzamam-ul-Haq,” Younis said.
“I want to be remembered as team man who loves to serve and his performance make his country proud.”
Younis’ memorable performances in the two-Test series against Australia have come after he was overlooked for the one-day series earlier in October.
“I can’t explain how I have spent that particular week as my family and friends were all tense,” he said.
“They were all wondering what I am going to do. They were afraid I might retire or something.”
A win for Pakistan or a draw would clinch Pakistan’s first Test-series win over Australia since 1994.
“When you score runs and contribute a lot in the game you want the team to win comprehensively so I have desire that we mange to pull off a whitewash,” Younis said.
PAKISTAN’S RECORD-BREAKING DAY AGAINST AUSTRALIA
* First time Pakistan’s No.3, No.4 and No.5 batsmen have scored centuries in the same Test innings
* 570 is Pkaistan’s fourth-highest score against Australia
* Younis Khan becomes the 28th player and third Pakistan batsman to score 8000 runs, joining countrymen Javed Miandad and Inzamam-ul-Haq
* The 236-run stand between Younis and Azhar is the highest third-wicket partnership for Pakistan against Australia
* Younis becomes the first player since England’s Herbert Sutcliffe in 1924-25 to score hundreds in three consecutive Test innings against Australia.
MOST RUNS IN A TWO-TEST SERIES AGAINST AUSTRALIA
* 422 (average 211) Younis Khan for Pakistan in UAE in 2014
* 403 (av 134.33) Sachin Tendulkar for India in India in 2010
* 314 (av 104.66) Aravinda de Silva for Sri Lanka in Australia in 1989
* 250 (av 62.50) Shahriar Nafees for Bangladesh in Bangladesh in 2006
* 249 (av 124.50) Kumar Sangakkara for Sri Lanka in Australia in 2007.
