On Day 3 of the first Test between West Indies and Pakistan in Barbados, Pakistan were all out for 106 in their first innings in response to West Indies 579/9. It was a 6-day Test match and saving it seemed rather impossible. This is how the scoreboard moved then onwards:
Jan 20, Stumps, Day 3: Pak 162/1, Hanif Mohammad 61*
When Hanif reached his room, there was a note beside the bed from Pakistan captain, Abdul Hafeez Kardar, which said: "You are our only hope"
Jan 21, Stumps, Day 4: Pak 339/2, Hanif Mohammad 161*
The note from his captain that evening said: "You can do it"
Jan 22, Stumps, Day 5: Pak 525/3, Hanif Mohammad 270*, Pak lead by 52
The note that evening from Kardar: "If you bat till tea tomorrow, the match will be saved"
Like a true warrior, obedient to his superior in a war, Hanif was unbeaten at tea on Day 6, with 334 runs against his name. Coincidentally, Hanif walked back for tea with none other than his captain, Kardar.
The match was saved and Hanif Mohammad was out after Tea on 337, after batting for 970 minutes - 16 hours and 10 minutes. 65 years later, it is still the longest innings in Test cricket and there are little to no chances that this record will ever be broken.
Not to forget, Hanif Mohammad was only 23 years old then and opened in that Test match.
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