Related Links : Pakistan’s Tour of India : Scorecard
Down and out till the second day of the Second Test at Eden Gardens, Pakistan sprung back superbly on the third day’s play through fighting centuries from Kamran Akmal and Misbah-ul-Haq. The pair batted for more than two sessions to raise the hopes of a draw for the visitors. The Indians though finished the day on a satisfactory note after getting rid of Kamran Akmal by stumps. Pakistan have finished on a strong note at 358 for 6 in reply to India’s 616 for 5 declared with Misbah-ul-Haq still unfinished.
When the third day’s play started every Indian follower was ready for a great innings from atleast one Pakistani batsman. Most people may not have expected Pakistan to go down five down in the morning session which they did courtesy of the spin twins. Salman Butt, the overnight batsman looked very confident and at times over confident with his attacking cover drives. He looked absolutely good until he fell in the trap of going for yet another drive of Harbhajan Singh. It was a clever delivery from the off spinner, giving it plenty of air and bowling it slightly around the offstump from over the sticks just short of the half volley length to induce a false drive from the left hander. The rest was taken care by a smart catch from Dravid to end Salman Butt’s innings of 42 (from 86 balls with 6 fours). That wicket came in the 10th over of the morning.
Pakistan now relied on its two best batsmen – Younis Khan, the overnight batsman and Captain along with Mohammad Yousuf. A big partnership from these two was due but it just seemed to be India’s day when Yousuf was cleaned up by a classical off break from Harbhajan that had enticed him to play the big cover drive against the turn. Yousuf lasted just the 12 balls in which he made 6. The new man for Pakistan at 85 for 3 was the inform Misbah-ul-Haq. He struck a partnership with Younus which was an attacking one. Both these right handers had taken the dangerous Harbhajan Singh out of the attack with their big hitting. That gave way to the unimpressive Munaf Patel who had to rely on reverse swing. An otherwise laid back Munaf put in some extra shoulder in a short delivery that was wide enough for the cut shot but Younus played an extremely rash shot to give catching practice to Dhoni. Younus innings wasn’t inspiring for the rest of his team mates. He played plenty of shots which offered lots of hopes for the Indians to get his wicket cheaply. He made 43 with 5 fours and a six but lasted only 82 balls which was just not enough for his team. Some of the shot selection from Younus raised eyebrows, in particular the reverse sweeps against the turn off Harbhajan!
The icing on the cake before the lunch break was provided by the Indian Captain Anil Kumble as he sent back Faisal Iqbal for a duck. Faisal Iqbal made the cardinal mistake of padding up to a Kumble’s straight on delivery with his bat hiding behind. Umpire Rudi Koertzen raised his finger slowly and Pakistan now were in a miserable position at 150 for 5 in the 41st over. They didn’t lose any further wickets in the morning session and they didn’t a single one for the next session as well with Kamran Akmal joining Misbah-ul-Haq to put an outstanding partnership. There was a half chance though which was put down by Tendulkar before lunch off a full blooded sweep from Misbah off Kumble.
Both Misbah and Kamran had the right ideas, they were prepared to stay at the wicket and they soon realized that it was a joy to bat on such a track and the quick outfield gave value to their shots. The wicket was very slow and the two Indian medium pacers didn’t create any impression. The homeside went wicketless in the afternoon session as Pakistan ended at 256 for 5 with both the right handers past their fifties. In the final session, it was about getting their respective hundreds for the two right handers and in the process getting the Indians frustrated.
There was a chance that went down begging in the 85th over when Zaheer had induced a top edge in Kamran Akmal’s hook shot. It was the hard second new ball that hurried onto the batsman but the fielder down at fine leg was the lazy Munaf who didn’t have enough in his legs to take a good catch. Kamran was on 88 then and soon he brought up his fourth hundred against the Indians. Misbah too followed him with his maiden century and it appeared that this pair will come back tomorrow. But the Indians found a piece of luck when Harbhajan Singh coming from round the sticks and bowled Kamran Akmal (108 from 210 with 20 fours) through the gate after setting him up for a cover drive against the sharp turn. That was the second last over of the day’s play which ended what could be a match saving partnership of 207 that lasted 60.1 overs! Misbah with 108 (from 204 with 10 fours) and Sami on 0 saw the day through getting Pakistan to 358 for 6 in 104 overs. Even if Pakistan get to the follow on target of 417 or not, India may only be having ideas of batting again and setting up a target.