Sport | Cricket
Hosts take charge on Day III
It was Pakistan's day at the National Stadium yesterday. Their batsmen, who perished to the Indian pacers in the first innings, batted with a vengeance on the third day of the third and final Test.
- By K.R. Nayar, Staff Reporter
- Published: 23:32 May 3, 2009
Karachi: It was Pakistan's day at the National Stadium yesterday. Their batsmen, who perished to the Indian pacers in the first innings, batted with a vengeance on the third day of the third and final Test.
The two Ys Younis Khan and Mohammad Yousuf, who were the victims of Irfan Pathan's hat-trick, thrashed the Indian attack for a 158-run partnership for the third wicket. Khan cracked 77 (112b, 11x4) and Yousuf hit 97 (161b, 12x4). Shahid Afridi, with another blistering knock of 60 from 46 balls, helped Pakistan take a firm grip.
Faisal Iqbal went on to hit an unbeaten maiden Test century 103 (191b, 12x4) and with Razzaq unconquered on 44 (92b, 2x4, 2x6), the hosts are in position to force a memorable victory.
At close, Pakistan were 511 for five and are ahead by 518 runs on a wicket which has lost its bite.
What has been disturbing is the downswing in the fall of wickets with each day. If 14 wickets tumbled on the first day, only eight fell on the second day. The third day registered the fall of just three.
Going by the trend, the pitch is easing out, which should be good news for India as they fight to save the Test. Every Pakistan batsman who played in the second innings has got a half century.
The hosts deserve praise for their fighting spirit.
For a team which crashed to 39 for six in the first innings, to pile up a lead of 518 runs is commendable.
With no one able to guess what could be a safe target to declare at, Pakistan is likely to bat till the Indians get them all out. With 180 overs remaining in this match, Pakistan will have to set a huge target.
The Indian batsmen, who are more experienced than Pakistan, at least on paper, are capable of mounting a chase.
Going by history, the biggest target that a team has ever chased and won is that of the West Indies. They scored 418 for 7 to beat Australia at St John's Antigua in 2003. India's finest chase to victory was when they beat West Indies in 1976 at Port of Spain scoring 406 for 4.
Everyone who walked into the stadium yesterday watched the first hour's play anxiously. The National Stadium has a reputation for being unfriendly to batsmen in the first hour. But Khan and Yousuf batted fluently like they did in Faisalabad.
Khan was the first to get his 50 (65b, 9x4). Yousuf followed suit (50x86b, 8x4). The pair not only saw off the first hour but also consolidated the team's position. Pakistan went for a hearty lunch at 270 for 2 with Khan and Yousuf in their 70s.
Ten runs later, Anil Kumble struck by trapping Khan leg before. Faisal Iqbal and Yousuf then added 38 runs before Kumble struck again. He denied Yousuf his 16th Test century by getting him leg before just when he was three short of his ton.
Iqbal, playing in only his ninth Test, continued to play elegant drives.
Next man Afridi accelerated the run rate. He made the Indian bowling look helpless. He then pulled Pathan effortlessly for a six to reach his eighth Test 50 (42b, 7x4, 1x6).
Pakistan raced past the 400-run mark soon. Shortly afterwards, Afridi lifted Rudra Pratap Singh to Tendulkar at deep mid on after putting on 84 runs in 116 balls for the fifth wicket. Iqbal who adapted very well to the situation continued to flow with Abdul Razzaq.
Indian skipper Rahul Dravid tried all his bowlers to provide a breakthrough but none of them responded till the close of play.
SCOREBOARD
Pakistan (1st innings) 245
India (1st innings) 238
Pakistan 2nd innings (overnight 173-2):
Salman Butt lbw b Ganguly 53
Imran Farhat c Tendulkar b Pathan 57
Younis Khan lbw b Kumble 77
Mohammad Yousuf lbw b Kumble 97
Faisal Iqbal not out 103
Shahid Afridi c Tendulkar b Singh 60
Abdul Razzaq not out 44Extras: (b3, lb5, nb11, w1) 20
Total: (for five wickets) 511
Fall of wickets: 1-109, 2-122, 3-280, 4-318, 5-402
Bowling: Pathan 23-3-93-1, Zaheer 26-4-93-0, Singh 21-1-91-1, Kumble 33-3-136-2, Ganguly 16-1-68-1, Sehwag 1-0-2-0, Tendulkar 7-0-20-0.
Share this article
More from Cricket
More from Sport
Popular in Sport
-
Golf
Realistic hope
Briton, on verge of turning 29, is among the fancied four for title
Sport Editor's choice
-
Westwood dazzles on the Earth
Briton takes two-shot lead to move closer to title as McIlroy swept away in windy conditions
-
Action from the Beach Soccer World Cup
The 2009 Fifa Beach Soccer World Cup opens at the Umm Suqueim Beach in Jumeirah
-
UAE stages Asia Cup Twenty20
Three teams to qualify for Asian Games from this event Top three will join India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and China for 2010 Asian Games
