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India Set for Victory

Thursday, April 1 2004

India's dominance of the first Test match against Pakistan continued today as Anil Kumble tore strips off a lackluster Pakistani batting line-up.

As Pakistan had struggled to 6/364 after play on Day 3 Irfan Pathan immediately broke through for India, removing Pakistan's final realistic hope of avoiding the follow-on - Abdur Razzaq - for 47 on the premier ball of the day's play.

Shortly following the original breakthrough, Pathan snared his 4th (4/100) wicket of the innings in claiming Saqlain Mushtaq. Sachin Tendulkar and Anil Kumble safely negotiated the tail despite some stubborn resistance from Mohammad Sami (15) and Shabbir Ahmed (19*).

After being asked to follow on, Kumble started a Pakistani rut in claiming Imran Farhat and Taufeeq Umar in quick succession. A well-crafted run-out from a brilliant piece of Yuvraj Singh fielding left captain Inzamam-ul-Haq stranded after just 1 delivery as the hosts slumped to 3/44.

Brief resistance from Yasir Hameed came to an end in the safe hands of Virender Sehwag, while Abdur Razzaq became the third batsman to fall in the 20's as Kumble continued to dominate proceedings.

Pathan, meanwhile, claimed another LBW scalp to allow for Kumble to clean up the majority of the tail - Sami and Saqlain both LBW for 0 - and Shoaib Akhtar to leave Pakistan with just 1 wicket in hand at stumps and the tall leg-spinner 6 for the innings.

Fortunately for Pakistan, Yousuf Youhana held firm throughout the collapse. Although a favorite of Pathan, Youhana batted with a dedicated amount of grit, courage and style to ensure that all was not lost within the side before the second Test.

Scored at an impressive strike-rate of 70 with wickets crumbling around him at a consistent rate the vice-captain raised his 11th Test century late in the afternoon session.

Yet the day belonged to the resurgent Kumble. Ever bubbly at the crease and armed with the extra burden of no Zaheer Khan present the 82-Test veteran diligently bowled his standard stump-to-stump line on a slowly wearing wicket.

With 1 wicket remaining before India complete the proceedings, Kumble will look to search for Test wicker number 391.

Progress Score: Stumps Day 4

India 5 dec. 675 (V Sehwag 309, S Tendulkar 194*, Yuvraj Singh 59, A Chopra 92; Mohammad Sami 2/110)

Pakistan 407 (Yasir Hameed 91, Inzamam-ul-Haq 77, Abdur Razzaq 47; I Pathan 4/100)

Pakistan 9/207 (Yousuf Youhana 107*; A Kumble 6/71)

Posted by Andre