Will appear here daily.
Karina is on leave and therefore Fair & Balance will be providing the Indian point of view.
saby:
Day 1
Pakistan, short on confidence, short on time and short on performance needed a day like today to lift themselves up and the provider was the unlikeliest one of the lot. Umar Gul!!
There was this strange cloud surrounding the pitch for this test match but as it turned out, the slight tinges of green did not make this pitch Gabba-like in anyway and it was a beautiful batting track providing enough encouragement to the seam bowlers to keep them interested in the proceedings.
Rahul Dravid, on a high deservingly after the first test, won the toss and tried to be positive on greenish pitch. That was an indication of trust in his batsmen and the message to Pakistani bowlers that ‘we got you worked out and we can spank you to all parts of ground even on this pitch’. Shoaib and Sami duly obliged with some wayward stuff after Sami got Akash Chopra with a straight delivery that swung just enough to deceive the opener. Akhtar, after his first two impressive overs started dishing half volleys and wide stuff to Sehwag and Multan nightmare was in sight. Runs started to come at a break-neck speed and the fifty was up in no time.
Gul’s introduction changed it all. He kept the ball in the ‘area of uncertainty’ and result was a surprise five wicket haul for the youngster. How about wickets of Sehwag, Sachin, Dravid and Laxman for your first five wicket haul in test cricket. Sehwag, even with all his heroics of Multan, was always suspect with rising deliveries on off stump and he duly nicked one to Kamran Akmal. Sachin was stuck on pad after a delivery came in late and umpire nodded in gul’s favor. Laxman, worked out skillfully by Gul and was kept guessing till he ended his misery when he edged one to Taufeeq. Dravid, very surprisingly played away from his body and Inzimam took a good low catch. When Patel inexplicably padded to a straight delivery, Gul had his first five wicket haul and he brought back Pakistan in the series. Shoaib Akhtar got rid of Agarkar quickly and it seemed Indians will not reach 180 but some lack luster bowling form short on confidence Shoaib, wayward Sami and Danesh allowed Yuvraj and new wonder boy of Indian cricket, Pathan to pile on the runs in the most frustrating part of the day for Pakistan. They let slip the advantage and when finally Indians were dismissed for 287, a score they never looked like getting, Pakistanis were a frustrated bunch.
Taufeeq and Imran started slowly but surely. Taufeeq after spanking three gorgeous fours off Agarkar missed a straight one from Balaji. Yasir and Imran survived anxious times to make sure that even with a horrible second session, its Pakistanis who have their noses in front. With the pitch easing out in Lahore heat, its time for Pakistani batsmen to stand up and pile up the runs and bat India out of the game. Too much to ask for? Tomrrow we shall see!!
fair&balance:
Day 1
This game is such a great leveler. In first test match Indian’s were 675/5 and a week later struggling at 147/7.But then those who are aware of excitement involved in Indo-Pak cricket know that it is always exciting when these 2 teams play. Indian captain Rahul dravid won the toss and chose to bat on a green top. It was a brave decision and message to the opposition was loud and clear “Indians have great batting side and are not afraid of green top”. For first hour of game it looked like, it was a great decision thanks to inconsistant bowling of Shoib and Sami and then came Umar Gul.Umar bowled a dream spell. This just shows what a disciplined bowling can do and in no time Indians were 147/7.Yuvraj and Pathan brought some respectability to score. People had no doubt about Yuvraj’s talent and today he showed it with an invaluable century. Pathan batted well to score 49. He showed that he might be the answer to India’s search of a bowling all rounder. Indians were all out for 287.
Pakistani openers started well and at the end of first day Pakistanis were 61/1. They have a clear edge in this game. From here on, it will be an uphill task for Indians to come back into the game. They have done it before and they can to do it again. Tomorrow’s morning session holds the key. Keep finger crossed.
f&b's 2nd day report:
Is there anything common between India’s last tour of ZIM, West Indies and Australia. Yes… In all 3 series, Indians took early lead and then lost the next test match to draw the series. Will this tour of Pakistan have same fate? Only time will tell. Hold on to your breaths for 3 more days and we will know the result.
Pakistani batsmen started the day very well. Their initial goal was to occupy the wicket as long as they can and runs will flow and it did. Imran farhat, Inzimam and Youhana played out of their skin as to put some decent total on the board. They were well supported by some dumb decisions by umpires but then it is part and parcel of the game. Fortunes favours the braves and Pakistani batsmen definitely fought bravely inspite of some good bowling by Irfan and Balaji. Inzi is one batsman in this series who never looks like getting out. He batted with controlled agression. Today performance by Pakistani rules out one outcome of match and that is Indians are not going to win this one . Indians will have to work hard to draw this match and to do this they will have to either get Pakistan out before lunch on 3rd day or be ready to bat atleast 6 sessions in their 2nd inning. If there is one team in the world, which can do this, is India. But will they???
Saby's 2nd day report
Pakistan enjoyed a rare day of utter domination in the second test today with some determined workman like approach from all the batsmen. Almost all the batsmen produced when it mattered the most and leading the way was captain himself.
The day started with Imran Farhat and Yasir cautiously trying to graft their innings. Imran Farhat would occasionally stroke a delicious boundary but grafting was the way to go as it was decided. When Yasir threw away a sold partnership wafting on a wide delivery, captain joined Imran and they saw off till lunch with the continuing caution. After the interval, runs started to flow with Imran farhat stroking some gorgeous offside strokes on his way to his second century. There were question marks over his inclusion and he was under tremendous pressure with Imran Nazir waiting in the wings to grab his opportunity, Farhat silenced everyone in the best way possible. His hundred was a mixture of extreme caution and elegance whenever he decided to play his shots. Geoffrey Boycott dubbed him as ‘young Saeed Anwar’ when he coached him few seasons back and today he demonstrated that he could be one if he shows the right application. Soon after his century, he suffered a lapse in concentration and brought about his own downfall but that’s the only thing you can blame him for that he did not go on to make a big one. Inzimam on the other hand was unflappable to say the least. The moment he went out to bad, it seemed that the hundred is on cards, the way he applied himself. He reached there mostly untroubled. Most batting captains suffer from slump in their batting forms when made captain. Examples are Hussain, Ganguly, Sachin, and Vaughan. But Inzimam has excelled as batsman since he is made captain. Today he scored one of his best hundreds, first against India and first hundred as Pakistan captain. Hats off to him for leading the way in the best way possible. Yousuf Youhana, benefiting from a decision which went in his favor, played and missed but he is still there and it would be better if he makes most of this opportunity. Pakistanis must be thinking that the justice is done after the ridiculous decision against youhana in last match. What goes around, comes around.
Pakistan is in a great position to press home the advantage and give Indians a mountain to climb in the second innings, same as they did against Pakistan. For that purpose Inzi and youhana have to bat Pakistan to a impregnable position.
saby's Day 3 report:
Pakistan is all set for a famous win at Lahore, come tomorrow. They need to finish Indian tail and knock off the deficit, if there is going to be one.
When the day started, pakistan were strongly placed but within space of five overs, Pakistan lost over night batsmen plus kamran akmal and Mohammad Sami with pathan and balaji staging a come back of sorts. But gutsy partnership between Shoaib and Asim Kamaal wrested the initiative back for Pakistan. Asim Kamaal was the star of the day for Pakistan. His intelligent batting along with determined tail made sure Pakistan lead goes beyond 200. He looks like a compact test match player with a resolute defense and a perfect temperament to play long innings. He is one of those rare ‘debut 99’ players and demonstrated enough potential in his short career so far to show that Pakistan has found a compact and reliable middle order bat. Today his innings made the difference between an impressive lead and a marginal lead against Indian batting.
Bowlers came out firing and produced the results as wanted. Shoaib and Sami have come under tremendous pressure and if reports are to be believed, both are under serious scrutiny for the final test but they produced fiery and accurate spells. Sehwag withstood the storm and produced excellent counter attack and he is the sole reason why India is in a position to avoid innings defeat and if he stays out there till lunch, Pakistan will face a tricky and nervy fourth innings chase.
Umpiring standards in the series have been below par with both sides favoring from dubious calls, for or against. Its about time ICC review its list again and demote one or two, read Bucknor.
Will Pakistan inflict an innings defeat tomorrow? Or will Pakistan inflict a defeat at all? Pakistanis have done really well to bounce back this strongly after ignominious defeat in Multan, they just need to add the finishing touches tomorrow!
f&b's 3rd day report
History repeats itself. Perfect example is 2nd test match between Indian and Pakistan. This will be 4th time that Indian's blew off their chance of winning the test match after being 1-0 up in an away test series. Therefore India's 17 years search for away Test series continues.
Indian bowlers bowled brilliantly in the morning session and look like they will take the initiative away from Pakistani team. During first hour of morning Pakistan lost 4 wickets with addition of 20 odd runs. But then Asim Akmal played a very good inning to give Pakistan a lead of 202 runs. From there onwards it was going to be tough task for Indians but so-called great batting lineup gave in too easily. Indian kept losing wickets on regular interval with exception of Sehwag who played his usual cracking inning of 86 and he is still on wicket. Great names like Sachin, Rahul, Laxman failed to deliver when it mattered most.
Over to next test match. We hope we will have one close test match unlike first 2 one-sided matches. This will be brilliant end to a great Test series.
saby's report:
Day 4
If Pakistan team ever needed to bring out a professional performance, this match was it. Pressure coming into this match was of enormous proportions but players, and nice to see that younger players, came to the fore and provided valuable contributions to the victory.
This morning Pakistan rode on an inspired spell by Shoaib, who produced brute of a delivery to Pathan after giving him a barrage of short stuff, dismissed India and chased down a target of 40 runs with utmost ease. Much maligned Shoaib produced his best spell of controlled aggressive bowling this morning and he must be feeling confident after this performance as he admitted to Dean Jones immediately that he is no where near his best but getting there. What is satisfying for Pakistan is the fact that all four bowlers shared twenty wickets with Gul taking 6, Kaneria 5, shoaib and sami 4 a piece. Inzimam would be hoping that shoaib carry his revived form in the decider. Rest assured, if Gul produces one or two deliveries like he did against Laxman and Shoaib comes out all cylinders firing, we are in for a thrilling contest.
Miandad and Inzimam, coming out strongly in face of criticism, both on and off the field as both have threatened to quit after being criticized by both fans and critics alike. But this victory would surely have changed the tone and attitude and Pakistan can afford to smile, for now. Confidence of fans is restored to some extent and a similar performance in Pindi will shut the critics for some time to come.