CALCUTTA, 19 March 2005 — If the second day of the second Test belonged to Pakistan, the third was dominated by India who not only bowled Pakistan out but also managed to take a marginal first inning lead of 14 runs which at close was extended to 147 as they finished at 133 for 3 in their second innings.
The wicket still has plenty of runs and with Rahul Dravid, the first innings century maker, in fine fettle and plenty of batting still to follow it is almost certain that if India is not bowled out before tea today they may take a tight grip on the match.
A lot will however depend on how well Pakistanis are able to bowl to contain them. At the moment they are competing on equal terms but this could change by a good spell of bowling by Pakistan or by the rest of the Indian batsmen who are aiming for a challenging target for Pakistan to chase and survive at least three and a half session.
Pakistan 273 for 2 overnight failed to cash in on their strong foundation to strengthen their position in the Test. Yousuf Youhana and Younis Khan had resumed at 101 and 108 runs respectively. They were however separated early at the start when only eight runs were added to the score. Youhana at 104 padded one delivery from Laxmipathy Balaji to be out leg before. He and Younis added 211 runs.
Younis however continued confidently when joined by Inzamam-ul-Haq. With his captain he put on 50 runs for the fourth wicket in as many minutes when Pakistan lost yet another wicket. Inzamam defending tentatively got an outside edge to the keeper Dinesh Karthik off Irfan Pathan’s bowling and was gone for 30 runs.
Asim Kamal was run out after a mix up with Younis when the latter drove to mid on and hesitated while taking a single, a direct throw from long on by Sachin Tendulkar did the rest.
Pakistan had lost three wickets adding 81 more runs to their second day’s score when lunch was taken at 354 for 5. After lunch Pakistan slide continued as wickets tumbled. Their last five wickets could add only 39 runs and that was quite disappointing from Pakistan’s point of view.
Once Younis was out after lunch having made 147 runs, the rest just perished without much resistance. Both Anil Kumble and off-spinner Harabhajan Singh bowling a tight line had made life difficult.
Younis guiding one from Kumble was caught by V. V. S. Laxman at slip having hit 19 fours in 370 minutes batting. Kamran Akmal the century maker of the first Test was out without scoring as he mistimed a drive off Harbhajan and was caught at mid-on by Tendulkar. Abdul Razzaq, Mohammad Sami and Mohammad Khalil offered little resistance. Seventy minutes after lunch Pakistan were all out for 393 and later after Sami struck twice dismissing Gautum Gambhir with a yorker and then Sehwag, who played a shooting delivery on to his stumps, India appeared to be in trouble having lost the two openers and leading only by 37 runs.
Luckily for them, both Rahul Dravid and Tendulkar then got hold of Pakistan’s rather wayward bowling to share 98 runs for the third wicket. Tendulkar looked in prime condition. His drives and cuts just sped past the fielders as he showed signs of his old form. He reached his fifth half century against Pakistan and in fact the third successive of the present series having hit nine fours in 83 balls.
He was unlucky though in the end to be given out by Steve Bucknor when 52. It seemed that he was nowhere near the delivery he was supposed to have edged from Abdul Razzaq to the keeper. Dravid minutes later also completed his fifty with eight fours in 90 balls but fading light forced the umpires to end the day’s play with 6.3 overs still remaining.
India May Lose Hosting Champions Trophy
In New Delhi, India will lose hosting next year’s Champions Trophy tournament to Pakistan if the government does not grant tax exemption on revenues earned from the event, the International Cricket Council said yesterday.
The ICC has had a long-running feud with India over the tax issue. The country was scheduled to host the 2004 edition of the tournament but it was played in England last September because the Indian government refused to change its policy.
“The board has resolved that the 2006 Champions Trophy be held in India subject to tax clearances from the Indian government,” ICC President Ehsan Mani told reporters after the governing body’s two-day executive meeting. “We’ve agreed to wait until May for the Indian government to inform us about their decision. The board has voted to move the event to Pakistan in case the proposed tax concessions don’t come through,” he added.
