FAISALABAD, 23 January 2006 — When India finished the day at 110 for one in reply to Pakistan’s first innings total of 588 in the second Test here yesterday, the main point of interest was which side had the advantage after completion of two days of play.

When stumps were drawn on the second day, five overs before schedule due to bad light, skipper Rahul Dravid, who opened the innings with Virender Sehwag, was batting at 46 and VVS Laxman at 28. Pakistan could get only one breakthrough in the last session and an important one.

Sehwag, who loves to make big scores against Pakistan was lucky enough to get a life early in his innings. He smashed Shoaib Akhtar for two sizzling boundaries in the first over conveying by action that he for one was not overawed by Pakistan’s 588. But in Akhtar’s next over, third of the innings, Sehwag again tried to lash the fast bowler and the edge was dropped by Imran Farhat in the first slip.

Farhat, substituting for skipper Inzamam ul-Huq, was a wee bit late in reacting to the incoming ball. Sehwag was 12 and India were 16.

It is not quite often that a world class batsman— and Sehwag is one — gets a chance and does not make the best out of it. Pakistanis seem to be in the habit of dropping Sehwag.

He was dropped twice in Multan last year and went on to score a triple century. He was also dropped in the 2004-05 series in India and scored a century. This time, however, he was not so lucky. Immediately after tea, Abdul Razzaq, who took over from Akhtar, had him caught in the slips after the opener had scored 39. And what a coincidence: he was caught by Farhat. Laxman, who joined his captain at 39 for one, played sensibly and the two saw the end of the day’s play without any further loss. But India still have a long way to go and a lot will depend on Dravid who will have to play the key role.

From Pakistan’s point of view the match at this stage is tilted in their favor inasmuch as they have almost no chance of losing. Also their fast bowlers, Akhtar and Mohammed Asif bowled quite accurately and within their limits.

Except for the first few overs when Sehwag went for a slog, the two seamers made Dravid and Laxman work hard for runs. Also, the pitch now seems to be taking some turn. Both Danish Kaneria and later Shahid Afridi, who bowled the last over of the day, got some turn.

Earlier, Pakistan resumed their first innings at overnight 379 for four with Afridi at 85 and Inzamam 79 not out. Inzamam could not come to bat due to sprain in the back. Razzaq and Afridi resumed the innings. Afridi did not take much time to reach his well-deserved fifth Test hundred in the sixth over of the morning by hitting Irfan Pathan for a six. His back-to-back century, third against India was studded with 13 fours and four sixes and came from 99 balls.

The master-blaster raced to 150 in no time on the way plundering 20 runs from one over off Zaheer Khan, which included three boundaries and a six. India managed to get rid of Afridi when Yuvraj brilliantly caught him off Anil Kumble for 156 from 128 balls his highest Test score, studded with 20 fours and six sixes.

Pakistan then lost two wickets, those of Kamran Akmal and Razzaq with the addition of 90 runs. But Inzamam played a gem of an innings and with Shoaib Akhtar, took the total to 567. He made 119 from 193 balls which included 12 boundaries and a six. After his departure at 567, Pakistan’s innings folded quickly, the tail adding just 21 runs.

Injured Inzamam Told

to Rest for Six Days

Inzamam ul-Haq will take no further part in the second Test against India and has been ordered to rest for six days because of a recurring back problem “Obviously he is not in a position to take part in this Test and as far as his availability for the third Test is concerned that will only be known after the six-day rest period,” Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) director Abbas Zaidi told Reuters.

Meanwhile, all-rounder Shoaib Malik has rushed home to see his father, who is in a coma, and may be unable to take further part in the second Test against India. A Pakistan team official told Reuters that Malik had returned to his hometown Sialkot. “His father’s condition is very critical and Malik was distraught and wanted to return home immediately to be with him. His father is suffering from various illness and is in a coma,” the official said.

— With input from agencies