Explosive Pakistan Set Thriller

India resumed day four with their score on 6/379. Some gritty batting by VVS Laxman (79*) and Anil Kumble (22) helped India to 449 all out, and reduced a deficit which was once much to high.

Pakistan began their innings with their usual bravado and explosive style. Shahid Afridi took to destroying the Indian bowling, and Yasir Hameed complimented him well with some well timed strokes to the boundary.

However it was the dangerman Afridi that deflated the Indian bowling outfit with his destructive hitting. Afridi reaching his 50 in just 26 balls with seven boundaries and two sixes.

Soon after though, Afridi ran out of steam as he was stumped by Dinesh Karthik off the bowling of Sachin Tendulkar for 58.

India’s problems didn’t end there as Yasir Hameed went past his 50 and Younis Khan contiuned on from where he left off. Younis followed up from his massive 267 with another brilliant start to his innings.

Younis tore into the Indian bowling with brilliant strokes all around the ground. With Yasir Hameed, Pakistan started establishing a commanding lead over India and were in store to set India an extremely challenging final day target.

However, India struck back through Anil Kumble, as he had Yasir Hameed lbw for 76. However Younis Khan (84*) and Inzamam Ul Haq (31*) led Pakistan to 2/261 declared and set India a challenging target of 383 runs.

India began positively in the six overs they had before the day’s play finished. Gautam Gambhir began positively as he dispatched three balls to the boundary fence. At the end of the day’s play India were unharmed and finished up with 0/25 with Gambhir on 19* and Sehwag on 6*.

Brief Score Summary:

Paksitan (1st Innings): 570 All Out (Younis 267, Inzamam 184, Harbhajan 6/152, Balaji 2/114)

India (1st Innings): 449 All Out (Sehwag 201, Laxman 79*, Kaneria 5/127, Sami 3/106, Afridi 2/30)

Pakistan (2nd Innings): 2/261 declared (Younis 84*, Hameed 76, Afridi 58, Kumble 1/88, Tendulkar 1/62)

India (2nd Innings): 0/25 (Gambhir 19*, Sehwag 6*)