Pakistan’s splendid fightback enabled it to save the first Test match and with it gain heaps of confidence for the remainder of the series. With six wickets down, when the last day’s play began and only a little over 50 runs ahead of the Indians, not many would have given the Pakistanis any chance of drawing the Test especially seeing the way Razzaq and Akmal had got out in the first innings, but it was this very pair that not only thwarted India but played in such a positive refreshing manner that it will have boosted the team’s confidence no end. If Akmal deserves every bit of praise for his stroke-play, no less behind was Razzaq, who curbed his attacking instinct to play responsibly and ensure that Pakistan were out of danger. Akmal had got out jabbing at Kumble in the first innings where the ball turned and bounced but in this innings he got closer to the ball and smothered any turn that Kumble was getting.
With the pitch slowing down, as it would normally do on the fifth day of the game, Kumble wasn’t able to get the ball to hurry off the pitch to trouble the pair nor was the turn big enough to get the edges. Akmal played some fine shots and anything slightly loose was hit for runs. Razzaq, who can hit the ball a fair distance as can be seen in the limited overs game, eschewed his normal game to look for the ones and twos and not take the slightest risk. It was a stirring resistance to all that Ganguly threw at them and the reception the duo got from their teammates when they reached the pavilion at lunch showed the appreciation of their efforts. At the end of the day every player wants that acknowledgement from the dressing room than from anywhere else and if Pakistan now play with renewed vigor and energy then it will be entirely due to Akmal and Razzaq.
Not that the captain had not played his part, for he had counter attacked brilliantly along with Yousuf Youhana after Pakistan were on the brink at 10 for 3 wickets and it was then followed by another determined innings from Kamal, who once again laid a claim for a higher place in the batting order.
Balaji and Kumble were the pick of the Indian bowlers but even they seem to be defeated by the pitch that did not give them any assistance. Ganguly tried every trick in the book but it was to no avail. There will be the usual carpers about India’s batting on the third day but remember India did not run out of time to win the game. They just did not have the knockout blow.
Full credit has to be given to the Pakistani lower order batsmen including Rana Naveed who also played some terrific shots that belied his number in the batting order. India will be thanking the BCCI for keeping three days between the Tests for it will give their bowlers some time to recoup their energies but more than that it will give the think tank the opportunity to reconsider their bowling attack.
Well done Pakistan, you have now livened up the series.
