MOHALI, 11 March 2005 — Formidable as it is, in recent times the Indian batsmen have developed this impregnable reputation of flogging the oppositions and because of it they have even managed to beat the strongest outfit like the Australians both at home and in their own backyard.
In facing Pakistan’s weak bowling attack too on the third day of the first Test there was no half measure about it as Virendar Sehwag resuming, from 95 overnight, made 173 and Sachin Tendulkar 94, missing in the process to go past Sunil Gavaskar’s 34 hundreds in Tests , the highest at that level.
Their contribution helped India finish the third day at 447 for the loss of six wickets taking thus a first innings lead of 135. V.V. Laxman is still around in his threatening form and is likely to extend the lead further when play starts today. Anything over 200 could be a huge asking from the Pakistan batsmen who more than likely may find the task of saving the game a bit daunting.
Once again Pakistan fielded like novices and dropped catches that did not help. Also they were a shade unlucky too that the South African umpire Rudi Koertzen made an error of judgment when Sachin Tendulkar was caught of bat and pad when only on 8. Tendulkar later settled down to carve the field with brilliant but cautious strokeplay to get into the nineties. He was out on the fourth delivery when Inazam ul-Haq, the Pakistan captain, decided to claim the new ball after 120 overs were bowled but not before he had shared 118 with Sehwag for the third wicket and taking India past Pakistan’s 312.
Sehwag had started the day five short of his ninth Test century and with Rahul Dravid his partner on 39. In only the second over of the day Sehwag reached his century having batted for 176 minutes and having struck 12 fours and two sixes in 129 balls that he had faced. His partner Dravid also not much later got to his fifty with seven fours but immediately after Dravid was brilliantly caught at gully by Asim Kamal off Mohammad Sami for 50. He had added 103 runs for the second wicket with Sehwag, whose carefree approach to the game made Pakistan bowlers suffer.
Tendulkar walked in to a great ovation and survived the appeal for a catch when he played leg-spinner Kaneria forward and edged the delivery on to his pad and into the hands of Asim Kamal at silly point. A disappointed Kaneria held his hands over his head in disgust and in disappointment.
Later Sehwag, who was dropped twice on the second day, was dropped again when at 160 he swept Kaneria and lobbed the hit in the air to deep square leg where Salman Butt failed to hold on to the catch. Before lunch India had crossed Pakistan score and they were 318 for 2. But after resumption Sehwag’s chancy but attacking stay at the crease was ended as he mistimed a pull off Abdul Razzaq to be caught at mid-on by Yousuf Youhana. His innings lasting 352 minutes in which he hit 19 fours and two sixes.
Saurav Ganguly, the next man in, was lucky to be caught off a no ball off Sami when 20 and then dropped next ball by Taufiq Umar in the gully. He was out after tea however without adding to his 20 off Kaneria when Salman Butt held a good catch at silly mid-off.
Tendulkar could not resist the shine of the new ball taken at 416 for 4 and drove at Naved ul-Hasan to be caught spectacularly by Kamal in the gully having struck 11 fours in 299 minutes stay. He was followed by Dinesh Karthik who made only 6 as Sami’s lifting delivery popped up from his bat to Naved. India’s lead is expected to be a big one and Pakistan realizes that unless their batsmen stick around in the second innings the task will be tough.
