10 slowest centuries in Test history by minutes played

#1 Hanif Mohammad 337 in 970 minutes against West Indies at Bridgetown, 1958

Probably the greatest innings ever

It is perhaps the greatest match-saving innings ever played and, considering the fact that it was a 6-day Test, Pakistan legend Hanif Mohammad's effort in the 1st Test at Bridgetown back in 1958, instantly becomes an innings of epic proportions.

After the West Indies had scored 579 in their first innings, Pakistan was then shot out for 106. They then needed to bat for just over 4 days to save the game, after the follow-on had been enforced.

No one expected Pakistan to come out with a draw from that hopeless position but Mohammad's patience, technical brilliance and the ability to concentrate for 970 minutes or for just over 16 hours, makes it an innings that must rank among the finest in Test cricket.

He hit only 24 boundaries and concentrated on the defensive side of the game for large parts of his innings. The West Indies ended up bowling 319 overs but Pakistan came out of the match unscathed. Mohammad was the 6th man out with the score at 649 but by then the match had been saved.