Shoaib Malik may have won the man of the match against India for his fine innings, but it could be argued that it was Muhammad Yousuf’s dexterous innings that was more important and influential.

Playing with soft hands and using his supple wrists to manoeuvre the ball into gaps Yousuf kept the score ticking without taking risks when Pakistan were three down and Shoaib Malik was blocking most balls.

Muhammad Yousuf may have alienated some fans by traversing the ICL path and by carping publicly about Shoaib Malik’s captaincy which may have hinted too much at personal ambition, but there can be no denying his immense skills as a batsman.

And Yousuf’s adroitness and skilfulness is to be especially savoured in the current era. Better bats, shorter boundaries, more Limited overs cricket, physically stronger individuals, and the increasing presence of what Gideon Haigh described as a “more aggressive, acquisitive and exhibitionistic” culture are factors that have promoted increasing displays of power in cricket.

Batsmen increasingly regard their bat as serving the same purpose as a sledgehammer rather than an artists’ brush; where we see many displays of belligerence, as opposed to grace and placement.

With Yousuf though, it is a case of stroking rather than belting the ball, deftly and delicately placing and manipulating it rather than clubbing it mercilessly.

The high back lift may indicate savage intent, but that is deception, as he is more into caressing the ball rather than murdering it.

When Yousuf bats, grace, placement and subtlety are elevated to a high status. His style of batting is distinctive in today’s more power oriented cricket.

Yousuf has one of the best and arguably the most elegant cover drive in the game which owes to the fact that his front leg does not bend too much, so he remains reasonably upright but with the weight still coming forwards.

But yesterday it was the cut shot that he favoured as India bowled too short. In contradistinction to Ijaz Ahmed’s searing cut shots of a previous era, Yousuf’s were constructed of deft and fine touches. It was a delightful sight.

He continues that lineage of elegant Pakistani batsmen, which features most prominently Majid Khan, Zaheer Abbass and Saeed Anwar amongst others.

His magnificent partnership with Shoaib Malik was also a timely reminder of one the virtues of the 50 over game in contrast to its younger sibling, 20:20 cricket: the masterly crafting of the partnership, which included the shift in gears.

Such a skilful engineering of a partnership whilst the match is on a knife-edge is often absent in the shortest version of the game.

Yousuf also seems to have withstood the rush of time in another respect. In what Mike Marqusee described as “a sports world throbbing with hyper-activity and clenched faced ambition,” it is a pleasant contrast to sense the tranquillity when Yousuf is at the crease. Even his calm celebrations upon reaching milestones become notable for its rarity in the modern age.

He may be into twilight of his career, but on Sunday he sent a strong reminder that batting is not only about power. Here was a man at peace with himself and at ease with the match situation, gracefully and softly sinking India.