Email Us Forum Mail Article Print Article

Balaji takes four as Pak stumble

Wednesday, April 14 2004

India's young pace trio of L Balaji, Irfan Pathan and Ashish Nehra, bowled Pakistan out for a meagre score of 224, on a green deck, with enough moisture, to take the advantage on the first day of the third and final Test of the Samsung Cup, in Rawalpindi.

However, on a day where the Indians dominated most of the play, the home side did strike back, with Shoaib Akhtar picking the wicket of Virendar Sehwag of the very first ball of the Indian innings.

Sehwag was caught on the crease fending a short ball swinging in, thus edging it to Yasir Hameed at gully. Parthiv Patel, who was chosen over both Sourav Ganguly and Yuvraj Singh, to open the innings, and Rahul Dravid, avoided any further in-roads into their batting line-up, struggling but protecting their wickets for 15 overs, to take the Indian score to 23/1 at the close of play.

Earlier, after having lost the toss, and having to bat first, on conditions that were definitely more suitable for seam bowling, Pakistan dumped to 137/8, before tail-enders Mohammed Sami and Fazal-e-Akbar put together a 70-run ninth wicket partnership to help Pakistan to a mildly challenging score of 224.

Sami recored his highest Test score of 49, before being run out by a direct hit from Pathan, the last wicket to fall. Akbar on the other hand looked a typical tailender, edging more than middling, giving a series of half-chances, which could have gone either way. Sami, however, looked solid, and showed promise to the faith a lot of former Pakistan cricketers have put on him of being an all-rounder in the future. He gave only one chance on 34, which unfortunately for India, Patel behind the wickets let go begging.

The partnership was ended by Anil Kumble when Akbar was adjudged leg before wicket, not offering a shot.

Pakistan had slumped to 137/8, as a result of a very good performance by the Indian bowlers, though only in patches. While they were able to pick up wickets at regular intervals, there were times when they looked very ordinary. Balaji was the pick of them, finishing with four wickets.

Pathan and Balaji took the new ball, after Ganguly won the toss and decided to bat. However, they were wayward, for the first 45 minutes or so. Balaji was guilty of not being able to maintain a line, and control the swing, for he gave away too many wides. Pathan couldn't bring any variation to his line, bowling all his deliveries in the cordon where both the left-handed openers, Taufiq Umar and Imran Farhat, could easily leave them.

Both batsmen, however, fell leg-before in successive overs, after the introduction of Nehra, to reduce Pakistan to 34/2.

Hameed and Inzamam-ul-Haq, too were able to see off the swing. Hameed looked extravagant as always, while Inzy his own self. Under their partnership, Pakistan moved to 77/2 when India hit back again with two wickets.

Hameed was caught behind in the slips brilliantly by VVS Laxman, while Inzy was taken by Patel of the very next ball, off a different bowler though.

The hosts added 14 to their lunch score of 96/4, when Pathan struck a vital blow by bowling Yousuf Youhana for 13 off the inside edge of the bat, the most significant wicket, for Youhana was the only Pakistani hope left.

Balaji then trapped Asim Kamal leg-before for 21, had Kamran Akmal caught by Laxman at second slip for 17 and clean bowled Akhtar two balls later for a duck, off a peach of a delivery, which was pitched up and swung out just enough to miss Akhtar's bat.

Balaji enjoyed his career best haul of 63/4, while the two left-armers Pathan and Nehra picked up two wickets each.

Score Summary:

Pakistan: 224 all out (Mohammed Sami 49, Yasir Hameed 26, L Balaji 63/4, Irfan Pathan 49/2)

India: 23 for 1 (Parthiv Patel 13*, Rahul Dravid 10*, Shoaib Akhtar 4/1)

India trail by 201 runs

Posted by Sudeep