On this day in 1996, Pakistan Left-arm fast bowler Wasim Akram hit record breaking unbelievable 257 runs against Zimbabwe.
Wasim Akram 257 not out
257 not out is Wasim Akram career-best scored in test cricket. It was one of the most iconic test innings by a tail-ender. Wasim became the player of the match and his innings included 22 fours and record 12 sixes. He put strung 323-run partnership with Saqlain Mushtaq. Wasim innings in 1996 broke many records, here are the most important of them.
5 Batting Records that Wasim Akram broke
01 : Highest individual score batting at number 8
It is surprising that this record still belongs to Wasim Akram. Also the top-3 highest individual test scores batting at number 8 in all of them belong to Pakistan. In 1955 Imtiaz Ahmed hit 209 against New Zealand and Kamran Akmal hit 154 aginst England in 2005.
02 : Most sixes in a single Test innings (12)
Same as the above record, the record still belongs to Wasim Akram. However, there have been five times so far, who have managed to hit 11 sixes in one Test innings, but none has been able to go past the Wasim record tally. Nathan Astle (13 Mar 2002), Matthew Hayden (9 Oct 2003), Brendon McCullum (26 Nov 2014 and 26 Dec 2014) and Ben Stokes (2 Jan 2016).
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03 : Highest score by a bowler with more than 300 Test wickets
Wasim’s 257 not out is the still highest score for anyone who has taken more than 300 Test wickets. Sir Ian Botham and Wasim Akram is the only two batsmen to how has score a Test double century and take more than 300 Test wickets. In 1982, Sir Ian Botham scored 208 runs against India at the Oval.
04 : Second Highest individual score as Pakistani captain
Wasim’s 257 against Zimbabwe in 1996 broke the record of the highest score by a Pakistani Test captain previously set by Salim Malik 237 against Australia in 1994. However, Younis Khan scored 313 against Sri Lanka at Karachi 2009 and broke Wasim’s record. This was the same unfortunate tour where the Sri Lankan team was attacked by the terrorists.
05 : Third Highest individual score against Zimbabwe in Tests
In 1993, Vinod Kambli scored 227 against them at Delhi. However, Wasim’s over take Kambli number one position by scoring 257 not out against them. At that time it was the highest Test score against Zimbabwe. In 2003, Matthew Hayden became the top of the list by scoring 380 runs. Six months later, Kumar Sangakkara scored 270 against Zimbabwe to put Wasim’s 257 on the third spot in to the list.
