Related Links : Pakistan’s Tour of India : Scorecard
Sachin Tendulkar’s determination to stay till the distance in a fourth innings run chase for India paid off finally. The little master finished the first test in India’s favour with a square cut off Shoaib Akhtar to fittingly bring up a 6-wicket victory. All sort of records were made with this win, it is the 7th consecutive win for the Indians at this venue and it was only the second time in history that India has successfully chased a target of 200 plus at home! It was probably the first instance where Tendulkar literally saw his side to a test match victory something for which he has been heavily criticized in the last 18 years or so.
It took less than 30 minutes for India to knock off those 32 remaining runs for the win. In total, India took just 38 balls this morning to get those runs with Sachin Tendulkar playing an attacking game which had lot of pulls and hooks. India did have a casualty in the form of Sourav Ganguly. The left hander couldn’t resist himself from attempting a hook off Shoaib Akhtar which he couldn’t get hold off to be caught at fine leg. Ganguly faced only three deliveries today and couldn’t add up to his overnight score of 48. But he had done his job and even of he was out, the match was still India’s. VVS Laxman completed the finishing act with Sachin. He got himself a boundary through a pull shot off Sami while Tendulkar was dominating Shoaib Akhtar’s short pitch bowling with lot of command. Tendulkar finished with an unbeaten 56 (from 110 balls with 9 fours).
It was difficult to select the Man of the Match as most players chipped in with vital performances. In the end, it was the Indian Captain Anil Kumble taking it because of contributing in several roles. His Captaincy was superb, with the ball he did his job taking seven wickets and with the bat was involved in a key partnership with VVS Laxman. For Pakistan, the only big positive is the bowling form of Shoaib Akhtar who took all the four wickets to fall in the Indian second innings. He is seriously lacking any support from the other bowlers. Now the fight in this series moves eastwards at the magnificent Eden Gardens in Kolkata where the second test starts from the 30th.