India Scrape Home in Karachi Epic

The history was undeniable, the tension was indescribable, the atmosphere electric. To the neutral cricket fan, welcome to India vs Pakistan. After many, many years, the National Stadium in Karachi turned on a cricketing epic.

With gleamy and dreamy eyed fans carrying 'Welcome India' and 'I love Pakistan' banners, it finally hit everybody. The big date had arrived. This seemed bigger than any World Cup Final, it seemed bigger than any Olympics or any Superbowl. This was India vs Pakistan, where both sides have so much to gain, yet everything to lose.

Sourav Ganguly's men in blue were pitted against the brilliantly explosive Pakistan. With a fast bowling arsenal which is the envy of many nations, Inzamam Ul Haq's Pakistan side was seemingly ready for battle.

On a flat, dry wicket Inzamam was game enough to insert India in to bat after winning the toss. With brilliant plans to tear through India's world class batting with Shoaib Akhtar, Inzamam was ready to back his instincts.

With the bowling lineup of Mohammad Sami, Shoaib Akhtar, Abdur Razzaq, Naved Ul Hasan and Shoaib Malik, Inzy had every right to feel confident. India were without big gun VVS Laxman, but boasted the likes of Virender Sehwag, Sourav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar.

With all the preliminary formalities all put aside, action was about to begin. Shoaib Akhtar began waywardly as he slipped down the legside of Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag.

Tendulkar and Sehwag made Shoaib pay for his inaccuracy, as India were off to a flying start taking 10 runs off Shoaib's first over. Sehwag and Tendulkar gave Mohammad Sami a traditional Indian welcome as he was dispatched to all parts of the ground from his very first delivery.

Pain turned into anguish for Shoaib as Sachin Tendulkar spooned a catch to Younis Khan, only for it to be called a no-ball. Tendulkar then rubbed salt into the wounds of Shoaib, as he played a brilliant six over mid wicket.

However, Shoaib Akhtar would have the last laugh as he had Sachin Tendulkar dismissed for 28, caught by Naved Ul Hasan.
The Indian skipper, Sourav Ganguly strode out to the crease with a purpose.

Naved Ul Hasan was brought on as first change, and began one of the worst and longest overs in International Cricket history. Naved's over consisted of several no balls which were all dispatched by Sehwag to the boundary. The result, a whopping 25 runs coming off Naved's first over, and India raced along to a 100 in the 11th over.

Sehwag and Ganguly took on all comers, dispatching Sami, Naved and Razzaq for more than 8 runs per over. However with Sehwag on 75, a slower yorker by Naved Ul Hasan dislodged Sehwag's bails and the explosive innings had come to an end.

Ganguly and the ever dependable Rahul Dravid continued on however, consolidating so more Indian wickets didn't fall. Dravid was rock solid as usual, and Ganguly was more then ready to grind his way through.

The experienced duo then broke the shackles, repeatedly stroking the bad balls for four. Ganguly had two big heaves which went all the way for 6, but his joy was shortlived as he fell for a well compiled 45 off Naved Ul Hasan's bowling.

Young dynamo Yuvraj Singh (10) didn't last too long, out to the expensive Naved Ul Hasan who picked up his third wicket. With India's run rate in excess of 7.5, Dravid and Kaif consolidated once more.

Rahul Dravid playing a traditional sheet anchor role, but this time aggressively. The two put together a superb stand of 118, before all of India gasped as Rahul Dravid was bowled by Shoaib Akhtar for a superb 99.

Kaif continued on to 46, and guided India past 340, before the extremely expensive Mohammad Sami got Kaif lbw in front. Sami cleaned up Zaheer Khan, but the damage was already done.

India finished on a mammoth 7/349 from their allocated 50 overs. Pakistan batsmen had it extremely tough, but India's inexperienced bowling lineup would have any International team thinking their a chance.

India's young bowlers began brilliantly. Lakshmipathy Balaji uprooted the stumps of young dynamo Yasir Hameed, as he was bowled for 7. With the score at 34, Imran Farhat fell for 24 as Zaheer got the edge that went straight to Dravid.

Enter Yousuf Youhana and Inzamam Ul Haq. The two most experienced Pakistani batsmen feasted on the wayward and inexperienced Indian bowling attack. Nobody was spared. The two belligerently went past their respective half centuries and gave Pakistan a fighting chance of victory.

However, India's part time off spinner, Virender Sehwag struck the big blow as he dismissed Pakistani kingpin Yousuf Youhana for a superb knock of 73. With Youhana gone, Inzamam refused to fight.

The spirited Inzamam wore the Pakistan badge not only on his sleeve, but also in his heart. His strokeplay represented patriotism, courage and sheer determination.
Alongside the very classy Younis Khan, Inzamam reached his century and had eyes on a Pakistan victory.

However Murali Kartik, who had been crushed by Inzamam earlier got the biggest breakthrough of the game. As Inzamam got a faint edge on the way to Dravid who did everything right. Younis Khan and the aggressive Abdur Razzaq guided Pakistan past 300 and things were looking ominous for Ganguly's men.

Kartik got the double breakthrough soon after, knocking over Younis Khan's stumps as the classy Khan departed for 46. With the score at 322, dangerman Abdur Razzaq was looking to blast Pakistan home, but Indian speedstar Zaheer Khan put an end to his hopes as he knocked over Razzaq's (27) stumps to put India back in the drivers seat.

The tension was rising in the masses across both nations and worldwide. With both sides sensing and expecting victory, anything could've happened. Shoaib Malik's crucial wicket fell when Pakistan were 10 runs short. Zaheer redeemed his expensive figures with wickets in the end, as the match went down the wire.

Ashish Nehra bowled the last over, an over which would be talked about for many years to come. With a few dot balls and hasty singles, Pakistan required 6 runs off the very last bowl. Memories of Sydney when Lakshmipathy Balaji's last bowl was hit for 6 off Brett Lee came storming back into the minds of many.

But Nehra kept his nerve, as Moin went for the big heave, Nehra struck, Moin was dismissed and India won one of the best cricket matches in the history of our wonderful sport.

Karachi is a fine city and in what better place to showcase
the true spirit of cricket than in Karachi. Even God smiled on the spirit of India and Pakistan today and despite India winning today, cricket and goodwill between the two nations was the one true winner.

Simply an epic encounter, and it sets the tone for the rest of this historic series.


Brief Score Summary:

India: 7/349 (Dravid 99, Sehwag 75, Naved Ul Hasan 3/73, Shoaib Akhtar 2/55)

Pakistan: 9/344 (Inzamam 122, Youhana 73, Zaheer 3/66, Kartik 2/74)

Cricket Web Player of the Match: Inzamam Ul Haq (PAK)








Posted by Sangrah