Gul rattles India but Dravid holds firm

hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

so proud of gul...

Day 1

Pakistan have the upper hand

Pakistan 61 for 1 (Farhat 25*, Hameed 4*) trail India 287 all out (Yuvraj 112, Pathan 49, Gul 5-31) by 226 runs
Scorecard

Yuvraj Singh's dazzling innings may have neutralised much of the advantage Pakistan had gained from Umar Gul's probing spell on the first afternoon, but it's the hosts who find themselves in a position of strength heading into day two. That said, India will surely fancy their chances in the opening hour when the slightly wet grass on the pitch should encourage bowlers who are far more inclined to hit the seam than the hapless Shoaib Akhtar-Mohammad Sami duo.

The Indians would do well to watch a video of the manner in which Pakistan's two supposed spearheads bowled, just so that they know what not to do in the morning. Irfan Pathan bowled a miserly spell in the lengthening shadows yesterday, but he lacked his usual spark, perhaps as a result of his batting exertions. He still managed to shape the ball away beautifully, and much more of the same is needed if India are to prevent Pakistan seizing the first innings lead.

It would also help if Ajit Agarkar – with an unhappy predilection for dishing out one four-ball an over – could keep things tight along with Lakshmipathy Balaji, who picked up the lone wicket to fall with what was effectively a half-volley that moved back a shade.

The pressure is on Pakistan, who know that they will have to bat last on this pitch, unless they can somehow conjure up an innings victory. Both Yousuf Youhana and Inzamam-ul-Haq batted magnificently at times in Multan, and the experienced duo will need support from the likes of Yasir Hameed, who missed out on a first-innings century in the first Test, and Asim Kamal, who will have gained much confidence from the cultured 99 he made against Shaun Pollock and friends.

And while Pathan will be a threat, Pakistan know that their fate in this match will depend on how well they negotiate the threat posed by Anil Kumble. He bowled a couple of tremendous spells in Multan to effectively decide the game, and few of the batsmen showed any sort of composure against him.

Pakistan will aim for upwards of 350, because they will know that the odds on Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag and Rahul Dravid failing for a second time are very short indeed. You sense that the stage is set for an Inzamam special, just when his team needs it the most.




Umar Gul: rocked the Indians with his first five-for in the Lahore Test

pak in a commanding position na    

Pakistan romp to series-levelling win

Pakistan 489 and 40 for 1 beat India 287 and 241 (Sehwag 90, Patel 62*, Kaneria 3-14) by 9 wickets

Pakistan needed just seven overs to knock off the 40 they required to clinch a comprehensive nine-wicket victory over India in the second Test at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. Having been humbled in just over four days at Multan, they returned the favour with interest at Lahore, finishing off India's feeble challenge in just over 10 sessions. They lost Imran Farhat (9) – caught at point by Yuvraj off Lakshmipathy Balaji's bowling – but Taufeeq Umar and Yasir Hameed cantered past the target with the aid of some superb drives.

Parthiv Patel's defiant, unbeaten 62 had allowed India to avoid an innings defeat. Resuming on 149 for 5, they were bowled out for 241 a few minutes before lunch, losing their last three wickets to Danish Kaneria for just 6 runs.



Virender Sehwag, who had batted with the air of a man who wore worries lightly yesterday, never managed to get into his stride in the morning, struggling to time the ball with his usual fluency. Shoaib Akhtar frequently cramped him for room, and beat him for pace, and it was no real surprise when Sehwag had a flail at a delivery that was pitched fairly wide outside off stump. The ball took the top edge, and went through to Kamran Akmal. With Sehwag gone for 90 (160 for 6), it was only a matter of when India would subside.

Irfan Pathan had made a cultured 49 in the first innings, but lasted just four balls at the second time of asking. Shoaib bowled him three bouncers in succession, two of which he almost gloved perilously close to fielders. The fourth was even more lethal, taking the splice on its way to Taufeeq, who took a simple catch running to his left at second slip (160 for 7).

Patel was then struck a sickening blow in the groin by Mohammad Sami, but showed tremendous courage and skill to square-cut Sami for four, and pull Shoaib behind square for another boundary. Agarkar, whose Test century at Lord's stands alone as testament to his batting ability, started with a streaky four down to third man off Sami, but then played three glorious square drives off Umar Gul to ensure that Pakistan would have to bat again. He was fortunate though to be given not out by Steven Bucknor, when a Kaneria delivery struck him plumb in front.

Patel continued to drive and cut with power and authority, and a glide down to third man off Gul got him to 50. A slashed drive off Sami followed, as India harboured visions of an unlikely comeback.

The end, when it came, was swift. Agarkar slammed Kaneria for a straight four and another over mid-on, before edging the next ball to Taufeeq at first slip (235 for 8). Agarkar made 36, and added 75 runs with Patel in next to no time.

In his very next over, Kaneria applied the finishing touches, having Kumble stumped by Akmal – the third umpire viewed the replay several times before the light went red – and then trapping Balaji plumb in front. Perhaps exhilarated by the manner in which Pakistan had taken charge of the match, Gul uprooted the stumps at the bowlers end, forgetting that there was the small matter of 40 runs to knock off.

He only needed to wait another hour though, as Pakistan capped off a performance every bit as emphatic and dominating as India's had been at Multan. It set up a tantalising finale at Rawalpindi, starting next Tuesday, but it was impossible to escape the feeling that the force was now with Pakistan



Shoaib Akhtar dealt the killer punch this morning when he nailed Virender Sehwag

pakistan jeet gaya

shukar hai...
magar kya faida
last wala India ne hi jeetna hai