Re: India/Pakistan series - Daily Diary
Rahul's day 2 review:
Had it not been to last 13 overs of the day, we had a day of absolute mayhem for Indians. It’s just the last 13 overs played sensibly and without any trouble makes Indian team go back and get some sleep.
Lets get back to start of the day, both the Y&Y continued as there was no break at all, and again it took a Pakistani batsmen to gift his wicket for a wicket to fall. Than finally India took a wicket with Kumble sending Inzy back and Yonus’s wicket seems to bring Indians somewhat back in Match. Than started the most entertaining part of the game. Finally it took Afridi and Akmal to nail down undoubtedly, what all have been saying that this Indian bowling doesn’t have teeth of its own. Hence a wicket which didn’t give any assistance, Indian bowling became fodder, where batsmen could just play shots as desired and wherever they wanted. Pakistan ended day at 679 for 7, with four centuries within span of an innings. The innings of Afridi and Akmal just didn’t set the stage for this match, also set the stage for rest of the series, since this gives more depth to Pakistani batting lineup. None of the Indian bowlers made any impact, they were toyed by most of the Pakistani batsmen. Butt and Inzy should look at it as missed opportunities to score centuries.
Despite such a big score on the board, India should be more worried about Shahid playing with caution at the start of the innings. That’s something they haven’t seen earlier. That means his wicket has to be earned on this tour and with his destructive powers he becomes a very threatening proposition for the series.
Can’t finish Pakistan innings roundup without looking at two incidents on the field. Yonus’s runout as unfortunate as it was, it also raises a question about runners role in cricket. The situation was Pakistan coasting at comfortable position. What will happen when you had a tight match and such a runout happens, that will not go down as peacefully as this one did. I don’t see anybody’s fault in whole episode, it’s just that it happens and one of the improvements cricket can do with, and you don’t expect Harbhajan Singh to hit direct.
Four sixes from Afridi, it was matter of time when it was to happen. As it is matter of time we will see six sixes from him in an over and most probably against one of the minnows, though he is capable of doing it against any bowler. You need that bit of madness with daring to do this, and you have it in Afridi.
That brings us to Indian batting; it was a controlled display of batting by two much tensed openers. It’s good to see India’s technically most accomplished and courageous batsman captain to take a call and come to open. This also shows what politics can do to a team’s composition. We have a player batting at a position with an average of 57+ for years being shifted from his regular position to open the innings. Sohaib and Naved bowled fast and increasingly hard still there were no alarms. India scored 65 runs in 13 overs, that’s the average of 5.00 runs, an over. This is when they are defending, few overs before tea and followed by few overs after tea. This is hardly any time for batsmen to settle down to find rhythm. Clearly this pitch is playing true, as well as out field remains lightening. The simple nudges are racing to boundary. With option of roller with Indian team on 3rd day morning, I don’t see this pitch breaking on 3rd day. Hence India has full 3rd day and may be on slow turning track on 4th day to save this test. Runs will come if you put bat to ball due to lightening outfield. Hence only demons Indian batsmen need to fight is there own mental demons. If they can manage those, we have this match going for draw.
The pressure of 679, that’s what Pakistan, has to use to and pressurize Indian batting, if they have to win this match.