Re: India/Pakistan series - Daily Diary
Lahori Munda's day 2 review:
It was another horrible day for the bowlers. Pakistan continued their run fest as 4 batsmen ended up with 3 digit scores. Yousaf played beautifully and elegantly before rush of blood got the best of him. He really didn’t need to come down the track to hit Kumble out of the ground as he was playing beautifully while staying at the crease.
Younis also continued his great form against India and was very unfortunate to be run out for 199. I do believe Afridi did not see him coming out of the crease so far as Afridi’s vision was blocked by Kumble. By the time both Afridi and Younis realized a run was not there for the taking it was too late and direct hit from Harbhajan saw the end of a great innings from Younis Khan.
Afridi more then made up for it though as he belted a fine century to justify his place in the side ahead of Razzaq. His 4 successive sixes off of Harbhajan were a treat. He does have a habit of giving it up right after getting to the three figures though as evident by his centuries in ODI, I don’t believe any one of his ODI centuries are more then 110.
Kamran Akmal also continued his great form and yet again thrilled his home crowd by a century that was as quick as Afridi’s. Pakistan declared right after that to have a go at the Indian batting.
Shoaib tested the batsmen in his 1st over as an edge from Sehwag’s bat flew for a boundry and another top edge from Dravid landed in no man’s land. Other then that there was no threat for the Indian batsmen. Dravid and Sehwag played confidently and pushed the score beyond 50 without a loss of a batsman. This pitch still looks like a batting paradise and unless a bowler from Pakistan bowls a miracle spell or the pitch all of a sudden crumbles, Pakistani bowlers are in for a long day. The match at this stage looks very much headed for a tame draw.