Headlines

The NewsFuror

Tuesday, December 4, 2007

Pakistan dig deep for India draw

Second Test, Calcutta (day five, stumps): India 616-5 & 184-4 v Pakistan 456 & 214-4

Anil Kumble celebrates
Anil Kumble celebrates the wicket of Pakistan's Kamran Akmal
The three-match series between India and Pakistan remains alive after the tourists held out for a draw on day five of the second Test in Calcutta.

Captains Anil Kumble and Younus Khan agreed to end the match early with Pakistan on 214-4, 131 short of their victory target amid fading light.

India declared their second innings on 184-4, a lead of 344, but Younus (107) and Mohammad Yousuf (42) held firm.

India lead 1-0 with the final Test starting in Bangalore on Saturday.

But the hosts will bitterly disappointed not to have wrapped up the series having posted a mammoth total of 616-5 in their first innings and then reduced Pakistan to 150-5 on day three.

"We were in a good position on the third day and had there been more pace and bounce in this pitch, it'd have helped us more," said Kumble, India's captain.

The tourists will travel to Bangalore in high spirits after battling back from the jaws of defeat.

I am happy that I scored runs when the side needed them most
Pakistan's Younus Khan

There were even murmurings that they may press ahead for a shock win.

Misbah-ul-Haq's magnificent 161 in the first innings set the platform, but it was the 136-run partnership between Younus and Yousuf that so frustrated Kumble's side.

Pakistan's most experienced pair came together with their side struggling on 78-4 midway through the afternoon session and saw them through to the close of play.

The morning saw India add just 43 to their overnight total of 141-2 before their second declaration of the match.

Mahendra Dhoni (37) and Sourav Ganguly (46) were the men to go, both bowled by Shoaib Akhtar, leaving Rahul Dravid unbeaten on eight when Kumble called his men in.

Ganguly brought up 6,000 Test runs but missed out on a half-century following his first innings ton in front of his home crowd at Eden Gardens.

Pakistan began their response confidently, Kamran Akmal and Yasir Hameed taking the fight to Kumble and Zaheer Khan from the outset.

Younus Kahn reaches 100 against Pakistan
Younus Kahn's 15th Test century was perfectly timed for Pakistan

But in the seventh over Hameed drove a slower ball from Khan straight back to the paceman to fall for 14.

It was a terrific catch from Khan for his first wicket of the match.

Akmal and Salman Butt eased through to lunch but the run rate was becoming desperately slow - Butt made 11 runs off 91 balls.

India knew they needed quick wickets and with the second ball after the re-start, Kumble turned one in from outside leg stump to clean bowl Akmal.

The India captain then trapped Butt leg before wicket with a ball that turned quickly from outside off stump in the 34th over.

India could have made further inroads one ball later when new batsman Misbah was dropped by Dinesh Karthik at short leg.

Kumble's disappointment receded five overs later, however, when Munaf Patel bowled Misbah with an off-cutter that nipped back sharply, sneaking between bat and pad to leave Pakistan reeling.

But that wicket brought Yousuf to the crease to join Younus and the tourists' most experienced pair were quick to steady the ship.

Stand-in captain Younus looked in good for his first innings 43 and the 30-year-old built on that by bringing up a 15th Test century with a reverse sweep through backward point.

The knock could not have come at a better time and it makes for a nail-biting third Test.

"The team needed someone to stay at the crease for a long period and I am happy that I scored runs when the side needed them most," said Younus.

Kumble was keen to praise his bowling attack, saying: "It was a pretty flat pitch and tough for bowlers.

"I think they did a fantastic job to help us dominate in this match."

No comments: