Akmal and Razzaq Salvage Draw

An inspired batting effort by wicket keeper/batsman Kamran Akmal and all rounder Abdul Razzaq saved Pakistan from facing certain defeat.

Resuming the last day of the test match on 6/257, Razzaq and Akmal gave the clueless Indian bowling attack no answers as the pair dominated with flashy strokes as well as some steady batting.

The pair helped Pakistan cross the 400 run mark with their solid batting. The highlight however was when wicket keeper/batsman, Kamran Akmal registered his maiden test century.

Akmal’s innings had taken just a 140 balls and contained 15 very well executed boundaries. Akmal outscored hard hitting lower order batsman Abdul Razzaq quite comfortably as he reached his half century earlier off a massive 204 balls.

One man complemented the other as Akmal took to the Indian bowling, while Razzaq was the anchor. Finally however, their long partnership was over as impressive fast bowler Lakshmipathy Balaji dismissed Akmal for 109.

Razzaq fell relatively quickly after Akmal as Kumble dismissed the dangerous lower order batsman and the score had grown to 8/436. Kumble would get one more wicket in Mohammad Sami (10), but India would be frustrated even more.

Rana Naved Ul Hasan’s lusty hitting added that extra hint of frustration for India as what should’ve been a clear win was turning out to be a tame draw for the Indian’s.

Rana smashed his way to 38* off just 41 balls and with the score at 9/496, Inzamam announced the decleration, leaving India a huge total to chase in a very limited amount of time.

India faced a target of 293 runs to win in just over 25 overs, a task which was extremely unlikely. Openers Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir didn’t pay much attention to the victory target and played themselves in with some positive strokeplay.

Sehwag was the only man out for India, out for 36 as he was stumped by Kamran Akmal off the leg spin bowling of Younis Khan. Gautam Gambhir finished up on 32* as both captains mutually decided to end the game early and decided to finish the match as a draw.

Brief Score Summary:

Pakistan (1st Innings): 312 All Out (Kamal 91, Inzamam 57, Balaji 5/76, Pathan 2/68)

India (1st Innings): 516 All Out (Sehwag 173, Tendulkar 94, Laxman 58, Dravid 50, Kaneria 6/150, Sami 2/120)

Pakistan (2nd Innings): 496 All Out (Akmal 109, Inzamam 86, Razzaq 71, Youhana 68, Kumble 4/160, Balaji 4/95)

India (2nd Innings): 1/85 (Sehwag 36, Gambhir 32*, Younis 1/24)

Match Drawn

Series: 0-0

Cricket Web Player of the Match: Kamran Akmal (PAK)