Related Links : Pakistan’s Tour of India : Scorecard
India are marching towards a comprehensive victory in the Kotla Test requiring just the 32 more runs on the final day’s play. The homeside is sitting pretty with still seven wickets standing. The good old pair of Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly are going very strong with an unbroken partnership of 78 which seems to have done enough to secure India’s chase of 203.
Pakistan had an outside chance this morning to put up a target of around 300. But a reckless shot from Kamran Akmal in the first over of the day’s play spoilt that. Zaheer gave the break with Kamran (21 from 56) flashing him straight to point. Pakistan had just added one run to its overnight score of 212 for 5. After that India had to work slightly hard with Sohail Tanvir appearing to bat well until he fell pulling a short pitch delivery from Zaheer. A Misbah-Sami stubborn partnership was once again repeating for the Indians and Kumble didn’t feel there was any chance of dislodging the pair with the old ball. Surprisingly he gave the second new ball to Sourav Ganguly in the fourth ball of the 83rd ball. Misbah walked infront of his crease arrogantly and lofted Ganguly only to miscue him and get caught superbly by Dinesh Karthik. Misbah added just four more runs to his overnight score of 41. In the same over, Sami tried a slog off Ganguly to throw away his wicket. In the first ball of the next over, Danish Kaneria was run out as Pakistan collapsed to 247 all out.
India had a few overs to bat before lunch and they did that losing Dinesh Karthik to Shoaib Akhtar. Karthik fell in the first over of the innings itself nicking behind a pacy delivery. India didn’t lose any further wicket in that short passage and after the lunch break a solid partnership got going between Wasim Jaffer and Rahul Dravid. Jaffer, the more fluent of the two got past a half century playing some beautiful shots to have India cruising. His half century came with a lovely frontfoot drive off Shoaib and after that he played a full blooded pull shot in the air off the same bowler but played that in the hands of Salman Butt at square leg. Jaffer made 53 from 81 balls with 8 fours taking India to 84 for 2. Six overs after Jaffer’s dismissal came the big wicket of Rahul Dravid. A sensational indipper from Shoaib sneaked through a forward defensive stroke of Rahul Dravid (34 from 96 with 5 fours). Shoaib’s delivery had started from outside the off to take the leg stump of Dravid.
Shoaib bowled Pak back in the game with his three wickets getting India down to 93 for 3. The problem for the visitors was that he could only be used in short bursts and it was just matter of seeing off a few deliveries from the speedster for Tendulkar and Ganguly. The rest of the bowlers including Danish Kaneria couldn’t bowl any great deliveries to keep Tendulkar and Gangulu under pressure. While Tendulkar kept one end compact with his tight technique, Ganguly played his shots in an attempt to keep the scoreboard busy. Both were successful with their respective jobs as the target came down gradually. Each run was greeted by a joyful crowd and soon Pakistan were out of the match. As usual, play was called off due to poor light and by the end of the day, India are almost there at 171 for 3 in 54.5 overs. Tendulkar has started to bat freely after his cautious start to get to 34 from 96 balls stroking five fours. He has also gone past Allan Border to become the second highest scorer in Tests behind Brian Lara in this innings. Ganguly rounded off a great day with his key wickets to get a very important 48 (from 61 balls with 8 fours).
Barring any miracles, India should be winning the match in the first half an hour or so of the fifth day’s play. Tendulkar seems to be determined to stay till the winning run is scored which is something that he had never done throughout his career.