This is the best innings I have ever played: Saeed Anwar

It was ecstasy and agony for 29-year-old Saeed Anwar who sunk the more than a decade old world record for the highest individual score in one-day international cricket on Wednesday night against India.

Ecstasy, as his scintillating 194 obliterated the West Indian master-blaster Vivian Richards's record of 189 not out against England at Old Trafford, Manchester, in 1984.

Agony, as he fell just six runs short of what would have been a memorable double-century.

Twenty-two boundaries, five sixers, 146 balls, and 206 minutes, speaks of his domination against a surprisingly mediocre Indian attack, where barring Abey Kuruvilla, the rest got the stick from the Pakistani vice-captain, who wielded his willow like a sledge-hammer.

When the suave Anwar, achieved the coveted mark in Madras's flood-lit Chepauk stadium, the spectators got their money's worth.

"This is the best innings I have ever played," said Anwar. For him, the century has another significance -- it is his maiden 100 against India.

After a lay off for three months, due to ailments, Anwar said he was happy to find form in the Independence Cup, the first tournament he played in the last three months.

"Once I got past Richard's record, I felt I could carry through to the 200-mark. But I failed to check that shot at the last minute," he said with regret.

Anwar's knock, which is the highest by a Pakistani against India (the previous best being Javed Miandad 119 at Lahore in 1985-86), also helped his team to record the highest total of 327 for five as against the previous highest of 286 for four (44 overs) at Sharjah in 1986-87.

Anwar is the 11th Pakistani player to score a century against India.

Another record too fell at Chepauk, as this is the highest match aggregate between the two countries. Wednesday's aggregate of 619 for 15 wickets in 99.2 comfortably covered the previous best of 582 for 15 in 96.1 overs at Sharjah in 1995-96.

"It is nice to beat India in India," commented Pakistan skipper Rameez Raja, "though in the end it required a world record to achieve it!"

Following is the list of highest individual scores in one day international cricket:

194: Saeed Anwar, Pakistan vs India, Madras, 1997.
189 not out: Vivian Richards, West Indies vs England at Old Trafford, Manchester, 1984.
188 not out: Gary Kirsten, South Africa vs United Arab Emirates, Rawalpindi, 1996.
181: Vivian Richards, West Indies vs Sri Lanka, Karachi, 1987.
175 not out: Kapil Dev, India vs Zimbabwe, Tunbridge Wells, 1983.
171 not out: Glenn Turner, New Zealand vs East Africa, 1975.
169 not out: Dave Callaghan, South Africa vs New Zealand, Pretoria, 1994.
167 not out: Robin Smith, England vs Australia, Birmingham, 1993.
161: Andrew Hudson, South Africa vs Holland, Rawalpindi, 1996.
158: David Gower, England vs New Zealand, Brisbane, 1983.
153 not out: Vivian Richards, West Indies vs Australia, Melbourne, 1980.
153: Brian Lara, West Indies vs Pakistan, Sharjah, 1993.
152 not out: Desmond Haynes, West Indies vs India, Georgetown, 1989.
151 not out: Sanath Jayasuriya, Sri Lanka vs India, Bombay, 1997.

For Pakistan speedster Aaqib Javed, Wednesday's haul of five wickets for 61 runs was his third against India. Only Imran Khan (six for 14 at Sharjah in 1984-85) and Mushtaq Ahmed (five for 36 at Canada in 1996) had achieved this feat.

Aquib Javed's previous two five wicket hauls against India was at Sharjah (seven for 37, in 1991-92 and five for 19 in 1994-95).

One-day centurions for Pakistan:

194: Saeed Anwar at Madras, 1997.
119 (no): Javed Miandad at Lahore, 1985-86.
118: Zaheer Abbas at Multan, 1982-83.
117 (no): Mohsin Khan at Multan,1982-83.
116 (no): Javed Miandad at Sharjah, 1985-86.
113: Zaheer Abbas at Karachi, 1982-83.
106 (no): Javed Miandad at Gujranwala, 1982-83.
105: Zaheer Abbas at Lahore, 1982-83.
105: Aamir Sohail at Sharjah, 1995-96.
102: Salim Malik at Sharjah, 1989-90.
101: Salim Malik at Sharjah, 1988-89.