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Team India : The true "Sultans of Multan"
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A review on the 1st Test by Venkat
Scorecard
of the Test Match
After the closely contested ODI series concluded at the nearby city of Lahore, Test Cricket took centre stage as India and Pakistan battled it out in the first Samsung Cup Test Series after a gap of 15 years. With the psychological edge belonging with India after the ODI series win, it was left to see how Pakistan bounce back from the debacle in the One Dayers.
The Tale of the Coin:-
The toss, which eluded Saurav Ganguly in the one dayers, finally ended his losing streak as Rahul Dravid, acting captain for India won the toss and had no hesitation in choosing to bat first on a flat as a pancake wicket. The history of toss influencing results in Multan was a bonus for India as the team batting first has won the match on the previous two occasions.
India's 1st Innings:-
After the Indian skipper called right, it was the duty of his batsmen to justify his decision. The Pakistanis went on the defensive with the pitch and resigned to their fate as the Indian openers mixed solidity through Akash Chopra and aggression through Virender Sehwag. Sehwag started firing on all cylinders, hammering and unsettling the Pakistani bowlers all over the Multan Cricket Ground, whereas Chopra limited himself to his defensive abilities. Sehwag, was handed a life when Mohammad Sami dropped him on 68 off Saqlain, without having any idea of how many runs it was to cost. After being dropped yet again on 76 by Saqlain, Sehwag raced away to his 6th century with his typical cut shot over third man for 6 off Shoaib. In the meanwhile, Pakistan enjoyed a good 15 minutes, where they got Chopra caught by Farhat off Saqlain for 42 and Dravid falling to Sami for 6. Virender Sehwag was joined on the wicket by Sachin Tendulkar. Tendulkar initially played a Chopra-like innings, giving all support to Sehwag, as he raced to his maiden test double century. As the day came to a close, both the batsmen remained unbeaten with Sehwag on 228* and Sachin batting on 60*, with India only losing two wickets.
Day 2 began with a bang with Sehwag scoring freely to surpass his 250, and Tendulkar took over the role of the senior batsman and reaching his 33rd Test Century thanks to a misfield by Shabbir Ahmed. Sehwag was on the rampage against the record books, as he became the highest test scorer for India in a not-so-convincing fashion before lunch. After Lunch, he exploded yet again and became the FIRST INDIAN to score a triple century in test cricket in grand style, a six over mid-wicket off Saqlain. The end of a brilliant and entertaining knock came when he edged one to Taufeeq Umar off Sami. He made 309 with 38 fours and 6 sixes. Laxman added some crucial runs before he was run out for 29. Yuvraj Singh, playing in his only 2nd Test, gave across some lusty blows to the Pakistani bowling attack, thereby adding 59 quick runs before holding out to part-timer Imran Farhat. Sachin, switched to the 4th Gear, but according to the team management it was too late, as Rahul Dravid declared the Indian Innings for 675/5 with Sachin left stranded on 194*, scoring at a rapid rate of 4.17, thanks to the Sehwag blitz. The Pakistani bowling was not that great as they failed to bowl the correct line and length.
Pakistan 1st Innings:-
Pakistan began their first innings on Day 2, facing a crucial 16 over period before close. They did so, but failed to consolidate on Day 3 as Irfan Pathan struck first with a crucial blow of Taufeeq Umar. Laxmipathy Balaji followed it up by trapping Imran Farhat leg before for 38, with Pakistan struggling at 78/2. It was the turn of Yasir Hameed and Inzamam ul-Haq, Pakistan's inform batsmen to steady the ship, and they did so, by adding a 160 run partnership, before Anil Kumble got Inzamam caught by Chopra for 77. Hameed played some fluent strokes thereafter, but couldnt stop himself from holding out to Parthiv Patel off Pathan for 91. This certainly opened the floodgates for the Indians to dig deep into the fragile bowling tail. Yousuf Youhana, held forth for sometime with Abdul Razzaq, before controversially being "given out" by Simon Taufel off Zaheer Khan for 38. Moin Khan looked a bit uncertain, but still knocked some runs over. Last over of the Day : Sachin Tendulkar is given the ball by Dravid...then the Drama enfolds...Sachin bowls a wrong one, which goes between Moin's legs to knock his stumps over with the LAST BALL OF THE DAY. This was enough for India to brush through the tail next morning
Irfan Pathan, gave India a perfect start on Day 4, by bouncing Abdul Razzaq for 47 with the first ball of the day. It looked like a Pakistani procession as Saqlain Mushtaq and Shoaib fell cheaply, with Pakistan almost certain to bat again. Mohammad Sami and Shabbir Ahmed frustrated the Indian bowlers for some time and added some runs, but Kumble broke the partnership with Pakistan all out for 407. Zaheer Khan, left the field after bowling just one over.
Pakistan 2nd Innings (Following On):-
India enforced the follow on with just a few minutes to go for lunch. Irfan Pathan and Laxmipathy Balaji beating the bat more often than not. India drew blood in the first few minutes by dismissing Imran Farhat caught playing an extravagant stroke off Kumble, and his Lahori mate Taufeeq Umar followed him, without offering a shot to Kumble, which is a SIN. Catastrophe struck Pakistan, as they lost their skipper Inzamam, for his stereotype fashion - RUN OUT for naught, with Pakistan reeling at 55 for 3. Yousuf Youhana and Yasir Hameed added some runs, before Yasir played a false stroke, only to be caught by Sehwag off Yuvraj, giving Yuvi his first test wicket.
It took a spectacular forward short-leg catch by Akash Chopra to pick Abdul Razzaq as he was looking in reasonable form. Kumble getting his 3rd wicket of the innings. Irfan Pathan too got his name on the scorer's sheet as he picked Moin Khan plumb through a brilliant reverse swinging delivery. That was practically the end of the Pakistan try. Mohammad Sami played some time out, but was given out by Umpire Shepherd, off the bowling of Kumble. Saqlain Mushtaq did not last long, as he too was trapped lbw by Kumble for 0, with Pakistan out of contention on 138 for 8. Yousuf Youhana, in the meanwhile found an able ally in Shoaib Akhtar, who held one end up, while Youhana was in quest of his 11th Test century. Youhana raced away from 49 off 101 balls to his century off 129 balls, giving the Indians some stick towards the end of the day. He and Akhtar went on to add 70 runs for the 9th wicket, before Akhtar held out to Laxman off Kumble. So with only one wicket remaining, a spirited India took the field on Day 5, after conceding some insignificant runs, Irfan Pathan wrapped up a historical win for the Indians after claiming Youhana for a well made 112 and Pakistan folding for 216.
It was a long-awaited win in Pakistan for the Indians. But now the difficult task for the Indians lies ahead in maintaining their firm hold over the series and consolidation of the winning momentum is the key. One cant rule the Pakistanis out, as this loss would inspire them to perform better. I guess this match became a bit one sided after the onslaught by Sehwag and Sachin and the Pakistani slump on Day 3. Will Lahore provide the "real" Indo-Pak match we are waiting for ?? Lets Wait and Watch.
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