Classy Yousuf Gives Warwickshire the Initiative With Ton
Mohammad Yousuf made a classy first century for Warwickshire on the first day of their Championship match against Worcestershire at Edgbaston.
Another troublesome pitch, the second in a week at Edgbaston, made batting difficult until the Pakistan Test batsman reached the crease.
Following on from 81 in last month's clash at New Road, he hit an unbeaten 108 to record the 30th century of his first-class career as the Warwickshire closed on 299-6.
Yousuf and Rikki Clarke began the recovery with a fifth wicket stand of 107 in which Clarke, who struck two sixes of slow left armer Shaaiq Choudry, was the main aggressor.
Yousuf, supported by Tim Ambrose, accelerated after Clarke was caught behind off Gareth Andrew, racing from a measured 50 to the 30th first-class century of his career in just 39 balls which included 13 fours and a straight driven six off Choudry.
Yousuf knock earned him high praise from Warwickshire director of cricket Ashley Giles who said:
"It wasn’t a great day one surface but that was an incredible innings by Yousuf, It was probably the best innings I have seen in difficult circumstances. He almost made the pitch look placid the way he played."
