The Hindu : Sport : India noses ahead

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Mar 19, 2005

Sport

Sport

India noses ahead

By S. Dinakar

THAT WAS CLEVER!: Dinesh Kaarthick and Mohammad Kaif rush in to congratulate Sachin Tendulkar, whose brilliant throw from the deep had Asim Kamal run out. — Photo: S. Subramanium

KOLKATA, MARCH 18. The contest changed shades on an intense day at the Eden Gardens, much like the sky that turned from a bright blue to a dark grey. The second TVS Cup Test is progressing towards a gripping finish. India has an edge since it would be bowling last on a wearing surface, but Pakistan has a chance as well.

At stumps on the third day, India, 133 for three in 33.3 overs, was ahead by 147 runs, with the indomitable Rahul Dravid on 54 and captain Sourav Ganguly on 4.

India, which regrouped well to restrict Pakistan, that began the day at a strong 273 for two, to 393 all out 70 minutes after lunch, would be seeking to set a 300-plus target. Pakistan, whose later order batsmen clearly lost the plot, needs an early breakthrough.

The last half an hour on Friday proved rather dramatic. Sachin Tendulkar (52) was disturbed by some movement near the sight-screen, and then as dense clouds gathered, appealed unsuccessfully against the light.

And at the fag end of the day was ruled out caught behind to a short-pitched delivery from Abdul Razzaq that moved away. Steve Bucknor upheld the Pakistani appeal but the television replays indicated that the ball had not made contact with the bat.

Minutes later, play was called off with 6.3 overs remaining.

Early jolt

Mohammed Sami jolted India at the start, yorking the left-handed Gautam Gambhir and getting in-form Virender Sehwag inner-edging an intended off-drive onto his stumps. With India at 23 for two, the Pakistanis were full of beans.

Dravid and Tendulkar handled the pressure in a masterly fashion during a 98-run stand in 170 balls. Dravid, once again beautifully balanced in both defence and offence, leaned into his off-drives, timed his flicks to perfection and, apart from the occasion when he was struck on the shoulder by a short-pitched delivery from Sami, appeared supremely confident.

Tendulkar, like Dravid, remained positive. He found the gaps between point and cover with ease, and was, typically, strong on the on-side. When leg-spinner Danish Kaneria tried to pitch the ball on the rough outside the right-hander's leg-stump, both batsmen responded with fine sweeps, although Tendulkar was almost foxed once by a googly.

The inexperience of left-arm paceman Mohammed Khaleel and Shahid Afridi's unpredictability hurt Pakistan. As the ball becomes older Sami and Razzaq, both can achieve reverse swing, would have to be watched carefully. Kaneria with his leg-spin, and Afridi, if his consistency improves, could pose searching questions.

Game-plan

The Indians came out with a well thought-out game-plan today. Ganguly employed a second slip for Younis Khan against the spinners and since the Pakistani opens the face of the blade to play strokes behind the wickets, it was a smart field placement. Younis attempted to steer Kumble and Laxman made no mistake. His 147 had been a well-constructed effort.

When the Mohali duo Abdul Razzaq and Kamran Akmal were together, the attack was much better directed. Akmal, a fluent off-side player, was choked by a middle and leg line. Lured by a flighted delivery from Harbhajan, he holed out to mid-on. Razzaq too, with scoring opportunities denied, perished trying to cut Kumble. Towards the end of the Pakistan innings, Kumble and Harbhajan operated in tandem and there was a distinct buzz about the Indian attack.

This was also a different Harbhajan on view. The sardar depended almost entirely on his off-spinners and there were not more than a couple of doosras from him. In the first session, he had struggled with his line. Kumble and Harbhajan should relish bowling last on this surface.

Ganguly, pro-active today, fielded at short-leg, donning a blue helmet. The captain ran back too to pouch Mohammed Sami off Harbhajan.

In the morning session, Lakshmipathy Balaji, getting the ball to move both ways, provided the critical breakthrough. Youhana (104) thrust out his left-pad and was flummoxed when the delivery darted back. For Pakistan, the third-wicket pair had raised 211 runs in 56.4 overs.

And when left-armer Irfan Pathan bowled a fuller length and allowed the ball to swing he drew the confident looking Inzamam forward and found a thin edge. That Inzamam's 30 was the highest individual score in the Pakistan innings after the hundreds from Younis and Youhana reveals why the visitors ended up conceding a lead.

Asim Kamal, cramped for room, never appeared comfortable during his brief stay. The Indians had worked out a strategy for him too. He came perilously close to being trapped leg-before by Balaji. The left-hander finally succumbed to a brilliant combined effort of fielding — Ganguly, Tendulkar and 'keeper Kaarthick — after Younis had stroked the ball to long-on.

The match will resume at 9.19 a.m. on Saturday.

Scoreboard

INDIA — 1st innings: 407

PAKISTAN — 1st innings:

Taufeeq c Harbhajan
b Balaji
18

(44b, 3x4)

S. Afridi c Tendulkar
b Pathan
29

(21b, 7x4)

Younis Khan c Laxman
b Kumble
147

(258b, 19x4)

Y. Youhana lbw b Balaji 104

(179b, 13x4)

Inzamam c Kaarthick
b Pathan
30

(43, 4x4)

A. Kamal (run out) 6

(27b, 1x4)

A. Razzaq c Dravid
b Kumble
17

(59b, 2x4)

K. Akmal c Tendulkar
b Harbhajan
0

(13b)

Mohd. Sami c Ganguly
b Harbhajan
7

(26b, 1x4)

Mohd. Khalil c Sehwag
b Kumble
4

(10b, 1x4)

D. Kaneria (not out) 3

(8b)

Extras (b-5, lb-13,
(w-2, nb-8)
28

— —

Total (in 113.1 overs) 393

— —

Fall of wickets: 1-35 (Afridi), 2-70 (Taufeeq), 3-281 (Youhana), 4-331 (Inzamam), 5-347 (Kamal), 6-361 (Younis), 7-362 (Akmal), 8-378 (Razzaq), 9-378 (Sami).

India bowling: Pathan 23-6-90-2 (w-2), Balaji 21-1-81-2 (nb-3), Kumble 37.1-11-98-3 (nb-4), Ganguly 2-0-12-0 (nb-1), Harbhajan 30-6-94-2.

INDIA — 2nd innings:

V. Sehwag b Sami 15

(10b, 3x4)

G. Gambhir b Sami 1

(2b)

R. Dravid (batting) 54

(92b, 8x4)

S. Tendulkar c Akmal
b Razzaq
52

(91b, 9x4)

S. Ganguly (batting) 4

(9b, 1x4)

Extras (lb-4, nb-3) 7

— —

Total (for three wkts.
in 33.3 overs)
133

— —