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Pakistan feast on Indian bowling
Pakistan batsmen are on a run riot yet again on another batsman friendly wicket at the Iqbal Stadium. After Younis Khan 83 and Mohammad Yousuf 65, set the stage for another run feast, Inzamam, unbeaten on 79 and Afridi unconquered on 85 went on to tear apart the Indian attack and pile up 379 for 4 on the first day of the second Test.
- By K.R. Nayar, Staff Reporter
- Published: 23:32 May 3, 2009
Faisalabad: Pakistan batsmen are on a run riot yet again on another batsman friendly wicket at the Iqbal Stadium yesterday.
After Younis Khan 83 (131b, 13x4) and Mohammad Yousuf 65 (119b, 8x4, 1x6) set the stage for another run feast, Inzamam-ul-Haq, unbeaten on 79 (122b, 9x4) and Shahid Afridi unconquered on 85 (84b, 11x3, 3x6) went on to tear apart the Indian attack and pile up 379 for 4 on the first day of the second Test.
Though the Indians had strengthened their bowling attack by fielding five bowlers, they failed to curtail the Pakistan top order batsmen on a bright sunny day.
Inzamam won the toss for the second Test in succession. Openers Shoaib Malek and Salman Butt began stroking beautifully and the pair quickly put on 49 runs.
Butt played some lovely shots, especially the on-drives and straight drives to deliveries pitched up to him.
Malek, too, looked confident. Debutant Rudra Pratap Singh, who bowled with fire, had Malek caught at first slip for 19. Dravid took a tumbling catch to his left. Although Irfan Pathan failed to impress, Zaheer Khan did make the batsmen hurry.
In the 19th over, Khan got his reward. Butt edged Khan to wicketkeeper Dhoni for 37 (57b, 7x4).
Mohammad Yousuf began with a cover-drive off Khan. With Khan at the other end, the Indian bowling once again began falling apart.
The only time the pair looked in danger was when Khan escaped a run out on 10. Sachin Tendulkar missed a direct hit at the wicket from mid-on.
Both spinners Harbhajan Singh and Anil Kumble failed to make any impression. Khan played as confidently as he did in Lahore, using his his feet beautifully.
Soon after lunch, the pair recorded their century partnership in 152 balls. While Khan reached his 50 (84b, 9x4), Yousuf too celebrated his 50 (87b, 7x4, 1x6).
Just when the large crowd were settling down to celebrate their centuries too, Khan fell 17 short of his century. He cut at Rudra Pratap Singh and Yuvraj took a spectacular one-handed catch, leaping in the air. Khan's 83 off 131 balls contained 13 hits to the boundary.
Three overs later, Yousuf too followed, edging a Rudra Pratap Singh delivery to wicketkeeper Dhoni for 65 (119b, 8x4, 1x6).
Inzamam and Shahid Afridi then took over, Inzamam played as elegantly as ever. With the pitch playing easily, the pair stroked freely.
Fortunately for the Indians, Afridi did not open out as he did in Lahore. Inzamam stroked his way to his 43rd Test fifty off 86 balls with six boundaries.
India took the new ball in the 82nd over, but Afridi and Inzamam negotiated it with ease. Afridi hit two boundaries off Pratap Singh in the 85th over and reached his 50 (63b, 8x4).
The pair put on 100 runs in just 96 minutes off 146 balls.
The Pakistan vice-captain Younis Khan feels if his team can play well for another one hour today, they will be able to consolidate their position.
"It was a good move by the Indians to play five bowlers, but our batsmen played very well," said Khan,
However, Younis disagreed with Dravid that the wicket was flatter than Lahore. "The wicket is good and it is a little double paced. But this wicket isn't as easy as the Lahore track."
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