BANGALORE, 28 March 2005 —The final day’s play in the third and final Test at the Chinnaswamy Stadium is well poised and all three possible results are likely.
Pakistan, having bowled India out for 449 in their first innings, had taken a 121 runs lead and then extended it to 382 after declaring their second innings closed at 261 for 2 leaving India seven overs on the day and the full final day to make 383 to win. India finished the day wiping off 25 of them without loss.
They will have to bat really hard now to achieve what at this stage looks a kind of impossibility. But in cricket things do happen.
With Virender Sehwag, the double century maker in the first innings, and a strong batting line-up to follow there could be an outside chance that India, if not being able to win at least, could get somewhere near about the winning target.
India have to make 358 runs more and a lot will depend on how sensibly Pakistan bowl to contain them or bowl them out to level the series.
Abdul Razzaq is half fit and suffering from groin strain and that will make Pakistan’s task a bit difficult and then Inzamam ul-Haq will have to rely on the wayward Mohammad Sami and the three spinners Danish Kaneria, Shahid Afridi and Arshad Khan.
The wicket shows some cracks and by the end of the fourth evening the odd delivery also kept low.
For Pakistan, of course, there is nothing to lose and from the start they will have to make sure that they must field well and bowl a proper line and length. A draw is most likely if Pakistan bowlers fail to make inroads early in the morning.
The first hour’s play will of course be vital for both India and Pakistan.
India resumed the fourth morning at 379 for 6 aiming to get as near to Pakistan’s first innings score as possible, but they added 70 more runs before being out fifteen after lunch for 449. That India survived that long and the first session was mainly due to the last wicket stand of 53 between V.V.S. Laxman and Anil Kumble who came together when India had lost their ninth wicket at 396. Laxman had a patient stay at the crease while making an unbeaten 79 and Kumble made 22.
At start, Irfan Pathan was caught at point by Yousuf Youhana off Sami for 5 and Harbhajan Singh was held at the wicket by Kamran Akmal off Kaneria and Laxmipathy Balaji fell in a similar fashion. When the new ball was taken at 407 Kumble was dropped by the keeper off Razzaq when on 6 and Laxman too had a slice of luck when Younis Khan spilled a sharp chance at slip off Sami when on 70.
Had Afridi been employed before lunch perhaps India may not have had such a strong partnership for the last wicket. His introduction saw the end of the record last wicket stand at this ground by India. As Kumble was bowled all ends up by the spinner.
Pakistan leading by 121 runs had only one option and that was to hit the Indian attack out to gain as much lead as possible for a declaration. Shahid Afridi did exactly that.
He completed his fifty off just 26 deliveries with eight fours and two sixes and was out at 99 when he attempted a big hit of Sachin Tendulkar. He scored 58 off 34 balls.
That really set the pace and Pakistan later with 76 from Yasir Hameed and unbeaten 84 by Younis Khan did manage to declare to keep the game alive.
Skipper Inzamam remained unbeaten on 31.
