The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : Kamran Akmal's distinction

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Mar 13, 2005

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Sport - Cricket

Kamran Akmal's distinction

By Mohandas Menon

** Abdul Razzaq (71, when on 26) reached his 4000th run of his first-class career in 90 matches & 138 innings. He now has a first-class run aggregate of 4045 runs.

** Kamran Akmal's 109 was the 10th century by the fifth Pakistani keeper in Tests. The others to do so are: Imtiaz Ahmed (three hundreds), Taslim Arif (one), Moin Khan (four) & Rashid Latif (one).

Incidentally, the only other century by a keeper for Pakistan against India was by Imtiaz Ahmed, who made 135 at the Corporation Stadium, Madras in January 1961.

** Akmal also becomes the first Pakistani to register centuries while keeping wickets in both Tests and LOIs. Akmal had earlier made 124 against the West Indies at Brisbane on 19-1-2005 in the recent VB series.

** The 184-run partnership between Abdul Razzaq and Kamran Akmal was Pakistan's best for the seventh wicket against India. The pair surpassed the previous best of 154 runs between Imran Khan & Ijaz Faqih at Ahmedabad in March 1987.

** Akmal's 109 was the second highest by any Test batsman while batting at number eight against India. The best still remains the 135 not out by another Pakistani Imran Khan at Madras in February 1987. However Akmal's score is the best by a keeper while batting at number eight against India.

** Balaji becomes the first bowler to take nine wickets in a Test match at Mohali. He finished with figures of nine for 171.

** When he held the catch offered by Mohammad Sami of his own bowling Anil Kumble playing in his 93rd Test became the fifth bowler to capture 450 wickets in Test cricket history.

** Pakistan's 496-9 decl. was its highest team total on Indian soil. The previous best total was 487-9 decl. at Madras in February 1987.

** This was the first drawn encounter between the two sides in the last seven Tests. The last drawn match was the Sialkot Test in December 1989. Since then in six matches, before this one, India and Pakistan have won three matches each.

** This match was Pakistan's only third drawn Test since last four years (i.e. March 2001). During this period Pakistan has played 33 Tests (including this one) — winning 16 & losing 14. For the record, India since March 2001 has played in 44 Tests — winning 16, losing 13 and drawing 15!

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