RAWALPINDI, 16 April 2004 — India hit the mother lode as Pakistan toiled for yet another day at the Rawalpindi cricket ground here yesterday. And it was Rahul Dravid’s gem of an innings that enabled them to pick up runs and records with ease, while literally pushing the hosts into a corner.
Dravid, who was ninth out for a majestic 270, helped put India in command after a marathon 740-minute knock that contained a six and 34 fours. By then he had set a Test best, overhauling his 233 in Adelaide, and also becoming the first Indian to notch five double hundreds. He and Sunil Gavaskar had shared the record with four double hundreds earlier.
India at the end of the day reached 600, after resuming at 342 for four, with a solidity that was missing in Lahore, leaving the home team to negotiate a difficult 15 overs. Pakistan were 49 for two in their second innings on the third day of the third and final Test of the series and faced the prospect of another defeat.
It would need a similar application, shown by Dravid, from the Pakistani batsmen if they hope to save the Golden Jubilee Test and also the series that is level at 1-1. The pressure of overhauling 376 runs and then posting a decent tally on a wicket that is showing little signs of wear in order to make India bat again, must be immense, especially with the shadow of Anil Kumble also weighing on the Pakistani batsmen.
But Dravid showed that mental discipline was the key to stay in the middle. Though at times the odd ball kept low and the spinners extracting slow turn, the pitch still held promise of runs. With two more days to go, it will be a daunting but not a difficult task to hold on. But the Pakistani openers came up short when the team wanted it most. Once again after they had seen off the early new ball threat, both fell in quick succession to leave Pakistan in a mire.
First Balaji induced a snick from the hanging bat of Imran Farhat, that Sehwag at first slip held, and then Irfan Pathan, who ended the day with figures of 7-5-7-1, had Taufeeq Umar playing and missing at a ball on middle and leg and was given out leg before.
Pakistan’s problems were compounded from the start yesterday when they took the field without their strike bowler Shoaib Akhtar and batsmen Asim Kamal.
Akhtar was unlikely to take further part in the game with a ruptured back, which is under treatment.
But Pakistan would be hoping for better news on Kamal, who could be called upon to bat if the batting caves in as it did in the first venture. The only bit of cheer for Pakistan was that there was no fracture.
But Kamal is still nursing a bruise, a result of the stinging shot from Indian skipper Saurav Ganguly on Wednesday, and the bruise is said to be hindering his hand movement.
Dravid and Ganguly played to a plan when play resumed. And it was simple. Extract the maximum from the strip in order to make the match safe. Facing a depleted Pakistan attack, the task proved easy. Once again Dravid was the pivot around which India built their innings.
He again was involved in two big stands - for the fifth and sixth wickets with Ganguly and Yuvraj respectively — on an unresponsive pitch and a flat Pakistan attack.
But for the ghastly Ganguly run out and a lazy Yuvraj stroke that trapped him leg before, India could well have gone on to post a bigger total.
Ganguly blew a chance of gaining a century when he was caught short by a direct hit from Farhat when he was on 77. The 131-run fifth-wicket stand ended with the Indian captain preferring to take evasive action with his bat held high from the Farhat throw at the non-striker end. He had only himself to blame as he slowed to avoid the ball and the bails flew with his bat hanging in the air.
But Pakistan agony was just beginning. Yuvraj and Dravid scored at a fair clip and both hit some lusty blows over the field, while picking some fine boundaries all along the ground with their drives and cuts. Yuvraj had the power and Dravid the finesse.
The end of the Indian innings only looked near, when the tireless Muhammad Sami struck with a seaming away swinger to win an lbw decision against Yuvraj.
Dravid, however, enjoyed a blessed life after notching his double ton. Umpire Rudi Kurten, who negated a confident bat-pad catch appeal when he was at 213, let him off first.
Substitute fielder Imran Nazir held the looping ball at forward short-leg off Danish Kaneria, who shouldered the bowling with long spells from the pavilion end.
Then Nazir dropped an easy effort at deep mid wicket as Dravid attempted to force the pace.
The bowler to suffer again was Kaneria and Dravid had racked up 230 to his name. The let offs came too late, for by then the Indian vice captain had put the match away from Pakistan’s reach.
Dravid and the tail then threw their bats around at Kaneria and stop-gap bowler Farhat. Runs flowed and wickets too fell. Both Kaneria and Farhat finishing with two wickets. But it came at a cost.
India coach John Wright was all praise for Dravid. In a press conference after the day’s play he said: “Dravid built the foundation for us.
The first session today was again important, and Dravid played brilliantly. His innings helped us press home the advantage he had given us yesterday.”
Wright said he was also happy that India could pick up two wickets in the 15 overs played in the final session, adding that “We’ll try our best to finish off the game tomorrow. But in cricket anything can happen.”
