LAHORE, 15 January 2006 — While vice-captain Younis Khan was unlucky to miss his double century by a solitary run, pinch-hitter Shahid Afridi and wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal scored scintillating centuries to help Pakistan amass 679 for seven wickets declared. India, in reply had scored 65 without loss when bad light stopped play when 19 overs remained to be bowled on the second day of the first Test here yesterday.
Virender Sehwag scoring freely at almost a run-a-ball, was batting at 36 and skipper Rahul Dravid who surprised many by deciding to open the innings, was 22 not out.
But India face a Herculean task today and the day after. They will have to work hard to make Pakistan bat again. There were indications, in the second and last sessions yesterday that the wicket was taking some turn and Pakistan with three spinners, could cause problems for them when play resumes today.
Anil Kumble’s two wickets yesterday hint toward the possibility of the spinners getting some help on third and fourth days of the Test. In that case Danish Kaneria may cause problems for the Indian middle-order batsmen.
Afridi and Akmal savaged the Indian bowlers after Pakistan resumed on 485 for five after lunch, scoring 170 runs off 129 balls for the sixth wicket partnership.
A total of 194 runs were scored in just 22.3 overs during the second session of the day’s play as Afridi raced to his fourth Test hundred from 80 balls and wicketkeeper Akmal reached his third ton from 81 balls. Afridi’s hundred was the second fastest by any Pakistani, the fastest was by Majid Khan who had performed the feat in 74 balls.
Pakistani batsmen dominated the proceedings on the second day as well and the Indian bowlers appeared clueless how to tackle the onslaught, first by Younis Khan (199) and Mohammad Yousuf (173) and after their departure by Afridi and Akmal.
Younis and Yousuf resumed Pakistan’s first innings at 326 for two, with Younis at 147 and Yousuf at 95. Yousuf went on to complete his hundred — his 15th and third against India — in the third over by driving Ajit Agarkar to the ropes. He slammed three boundaries in that over and Pakistan’s 350 was hoisted in the fourth over of the morning.
The two batted with flourish to take the total to 455 when India met with the first success of the day. Yousuf was smartly stumped by M.S.Dhoni off Anil Kumble when the total was 455. Kumble met with an early success as he trapped skipper Inzamam ul-Haq lbw in his next over and Pakistan were now reduced to 456 for 4.
Younis Khan was joined by Afridi and the two looked in no trouble as they continued to score freely against both spinners and seamers. Younis fell one run short of his double hundred just before lunch when he played Kumble to mid-on and set off for a single. He was sent back by Afridi and beaten by Harbhajan’s throw.
Akmal and Afridi however continued to thrash the Indian bowlers after lunch.
Afridi was particularly in a menacing mood, racing to his second 50 in just 23 balls which included four consecutive sixes against off-spinner Harbhajan Singh.
He was finally dismissed, caught at long-on by Harbhajan off Agarkar, for 103 from 80 balls which included seven fours and seven sixes.
Akmal remained unbeaten on 102 from 81 balls that was laced with 11 fours and two sixes when Inzamam declared the innings at 679 for seven.
India resumed their reply in style, Sehwag in particular hitting Pakistani pacemen Shoaib Akhtar, Naveed ul-Hasan and Mohammad Sami with confidence and in style. But they still have a long way to go and when play resumes today, their first target would be to work to save the follow-on, which appears a tall order but with batsmen like Sachin Tendulkar, Saurav Ganguly, Yuvraj Singh, V.V.S Laxman and Dhoni to follow, they cannot be ruled out of the Test.
