MULTAN, 7 September 2003 — Bangladesh were kept waiting for their first Test win by Inzamam-ul-Haq who produced a brilliant innings of 138 to steer Pakistan to a one-wicket win on the fourth day of the third and final Test yesterday.
Pakistan, requiring 261 runs for victory, were guided by Inzamam to the target on the final ball of the fourth over after lunch when he punched a short ball from Khaled Mahmud through mid-wicket for four to take Pakistan to 262 for nine. The against-the-odds win leaves Bangladesh still awaiting their first Test win after 24 matches since winning full international status in 2000. They have drawn one and lost the rest. Pakistan took the series 3-0.
It is only the 10th instance in Test cricket history and Pakistan’s second that a team has won by one wicket. The 33-year-old Inzamam also featured in Pakistan’s previous instance when he put on 57 runs with Mushtaq Ahmed to give Pakistan an unexpected win over Australia in 1994 at Karachi.
Inzamam batted in similar circumstances yesterday morning and chose his hometown to leave Bangladesh ruing their best opportunity to win a Test. Inzamam, who scored his 18th Test century and hit 20 fours and a six from 232 balls in his unbeaten 138 runs, added 98 runs with tailenders Shabbir Ahmed (13), Umar Gul (5) and Yasir Ali (1) to take Pakistan to an improbable win.
Pakistan were 11 runs short of a win at lunch having resumed on 148-6 yesterday morning. They lost Umar Gul on the first ball of the fourth over after lunch when he was run out going for an impossible second run and was sent back by Inzamam.
Pakistan still required another four runs for a win when Gul went after adding 51 runs for the ninth wicket with Inzamam. Standing like a rock between Bangladesh and their first Test win, Inzamam had controlled the innings with patience and purpose, adding 86 runs for the eight and ninth wickets to frustrate the Bangladesh bowlers.
Pakistan lost Saqlain Mushtaq in the sixth over of the day when he nibbled at an outswinger from the persistent Khaled Mahmud and was caught behind for 11.
When Shabbir fell Pakistan had moved to 205 but Inzamam was in total control, even wading into the usually economical Rafique hitting him for a six and three fours in two overs.
Rafique, who has taken 17 wickets in the three-match series, displayed sportsmanship when at one stage he stopped in his bowling run-up to warn Gul, who had moved out too far backing up. Inzamam brought up his hundred with the total at 217 with a single off Rafique. His century came from 174 balls in 238 minutes and included 14 fours and a six.
Bangladesh, meanwhile, have lodged a complaint with match referee Mike Procter against Pakistan captain Rashid Latif for claiming a controversial catch. Officials said after Pakistan’s one-wicket victory that Procter had scheduled a hearing later to consider the complaint.
Latif claimed a catch off Yasir’s Ali’s bowling in the Bangladesh second innings on Friday to dismiss Alok Kapali for 22. Umpires Russell Tiffin and Asoka de Silva ruled the batsman out but television replays later appeared to show that Latif had not completed the motion of taking the catch and the ball popped out of his gloves when he fell to the ground.
