PAK v NZ 2018: Yasir Shah delighted to have broken an 82-year old world record

The fantastic leg-spinner became the quickest to reach 200 Test wickets on Day 4 at Abu Dhabi.

Yasir went past Australia's Clarrie Grimmett and achieved the feat in just his 33rd Test for Pakistan

With his third wicket on Day 4 of the ongoing series-deciding Test against New Zealand at Abu Dhabi, leg-spinner Yasir Shah clinched a highly astounding world record as he became the fastest to have inflicted 200 red-ball scalps at the highest level.

The 32-year-old reached the feat in only his 33rd game for Pakistan, going past Australia's Clarrie Grimmett who did the same from 36 Tests in the year 1936 against South Africa.

"When I started playing cricket I never dreamt of this record, never. I didn't even think of ever playing for Pakistan, so having done this much is an extraordinary thing for me, " an extremely satisfied Yasir got quoted saying afterward by AFP, "I learnt a lot from watching footage of (Shane) Warne's bowling on YouTube. Never saw Grimmett but when I read the chart of fastest to 200 wickets his name came first. Now it will be mine."

Yasir, who was the fastest Pakistani to 50 wickets from just nine Tests and later became the quickest Asian to reach 100 wickets in only his 17th match, second only to Englishman George Lohmann who reached the target in one Test fewer in Johannesburg in 1896, further stated, "My goal is to be remembered as one of the best spinners to have played cricket, and moreover, a match winner for my country."

Earlier, the classical leggie simply ran through the Kane Williamson led side and returned with astonishing match-figures of 14/184 in Pakistan's series-levelling innings & 16 runs victory in the second Test at Dubai.

It is the beautiful drift away from the right-handers and that beautiful dip on the surface that has always stood out from Yasir, who continues to mesmerize cricket lovers from around the world.

(Inputs from CricketNext)

 
 

By Kashish Chadha - 07 Dec, 2018

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