The Hindu : Sport : Openers India's noteworthy gain

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Tuesday, Jan 10, 2006

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Openers India's noteworthy gain

S. Dinakar

Faisal Iqbal puts up an impressive show with the bat

— Photo: S. Subramanium

FINE TUNING: India's left-arm pace trio of Pathan, Zaheer and R.P. Singh looked impressive on Monday after Greg Chappell's pep talk.

Lahore: That openers Gautam Gambhir and Wasim Jaffer put together sizable partnerships in both the innings was the noteworthy gain for the Indians from the tour game against Pakistan `A.'

And the biggest lesson for visitors was the fact that the bowling would have to be disciplined in order to create the pressure. India's pace attack disappointed on the second day and coach Greg Chappell was wasting no time.

"We had a talk about it. We decided to contain them," said Chappell. The pacemen were landing the ball a lot more in the right areas on Monday and there was some reward for them as well.

Pakistan `A', with the fluent middle-order batsman Faisal Iqbal scoring 87, declared at 358 for nine, and India was 72 without loss in its second innings when the contest ended.

Agarkar good

While Agarkar continued to operate well, the left-arm pace trio of Irfan Pathan, Zaheer Khan and R.P. Singh, certainly bowled better on day three.

Chappell pointed out that the Indian bowlers were also getting used to the Kookaburra ball. "The bowlers did a much better job today. I had a chat with Pathan. He was feeling a lot

more comfortable."

The India coach said it was much better getting used to the conditions and pitch in a tour game rather than "finding them out in the first Test."

All the batsmen had a good hit. Openers, both Gambhir and Jaffer, batted well. Picking one of them for the Test is not going to be easy for us, but whoever misses out is going to be unlucky."

He reasserted that the mood in the Indian camp was upbeat, "We are a well-prepared side."

The Indian pacemen R.P. Singh and Zaheer Khan struck early on the final day.

Kamal disappoints

The left-handed Asim Kamal, requiring a good knock to remain in the Pakistan National team, missed out, attempting to pull R.P. Singh and top-edging for Mahendra Singh Dhoni to pouch the offering.

Zaheer Khan, bowling from a shorter run-up these days, won a leg-before shout against Mansoor Amjad. The last specialist batsman, Faisal Iqbal, found a willing partner in wicket-keeper batsman Zulkarnain Haider. The seventh-wicket pair added 88 in 200 balls.

Faisal's effort, that consumed 171 balls and included 15 boundaries, was impressive. Faisal is a very sub-continental batsman and there was a lot of wrist-work even in the straight drives that he essayed. He pulled R.P

Singh, drove Pathan down the ground and cover-drove Harbhahan, after using his feet.

When the Indians batted a second time, Gambhir (28 not out, 38b, 5x4) and Jaffer (35 not out, 43b, 6x4) stroked confidently.

Later, Virender Sehwag, with whom either Gambhir or Jaffer should be opening the innings in the first Test, said, "I have been practising with a hard, synthetic ball to get used to the pace and the bounce (he was referring to the Pakistani pace attack)." The India vice-captain felt the first Test

would be crucial. He believed there would be more pressure on Pakistan since it was the home side.

The scores: India — 1st innings: 414 for seven decl.

Pakistan `A' — 1st innings: I. Farhat c Zaheer b Harbhajan 107; B. Khan c Laxman b Agarkar 6; M. Wasim lbw b Pathan 1; H. Raza c Dhoni b Pathan 75; F. Iqbal c Harbhajan b Agarkar 87; A. Kamal c Dhoni b R.P Singh 14; M. Amjad lbw b Zaheer 0; Z. Haidar lbw b Pathan 35; Y. Arafat c Dhoni b R.P. Singh 9; U. Gul (not out) 15; R. Iftekar (not out) 0, Extras (b-4, nb-5) 9. Total (for nine wkts decl) 358.

Fall of wickets: 1-14, 2-26, 3-186, 4-198, 5-226, 6-227, 7-315, 8-337, 9-358.

India bowling: Pathan 22-6-82-3, Agarkar 16-3-60-2, R.P. Singh 16-4-62-2; Zaheer 19-2-67-1; Harbhajan 21-1-77-1, Yuvraj Singh 1-0-6-0.

India — 2nd innings: G. Gambhir (not out) 28; W. Jaffer (not out) 35, Extras (b-1, w-5, nb-3) 9. Total (for no loss) 72.

Pakistan `A' bowling: Gul 5-0-26-0; Iftekar 5-2-17-0; Irshad 2-0-20-0 (nb-3), Farhat 1-0-8-0.

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