After the opening session of the Karachi test, Pakistan did the unbelievable as they defeated India in a test series after 19 years. Pakistan, after being 39 for 6 at one stage, scored 245 in the first innings. Kamran Akmal bailed them out with a spectacular rearguard century. India, however failed to grab the initiative as they bundled out for 238. In reply, Pakistan made up for their lackluster effort earlier, as they notched up 599 for 7 declared.

Pakistani batsmen fashioned a world record when their top seven batsmen all crossed the 50-run mark. Young Faisal Iqbal, on a comeback trail, struck an extremely confident 139. It was an innings that reflected his composure, technique, and his mental strength at the international level. Mohammad Yousuf (97 runs) & Abdul Razzaq (90 runs) were other notable performers.

The fourth day’s play started amid talks of Pakistan being too defensive and delaying the declaration for individual milestones, and that opinion, perhaps, was justified. However, as the Indian innings commenced, in front of a tremendously vocal crowd in the National Stadium, Pakistan did not have to wait long enough for a breakthrough. In the first over, Shoaib had skipper Rahul Dravid caught behind. Disaster struck India when the dangerous Virender Sehwag was bowled by a stunning delivery that darted back in from six inches outside off-stump to knock his middle stump out of the ground by emerging seamer Mohammad Asif. VVS Laxman then followed in similar fashion, bringing back memories of Umar Gul’s match-winning performance in Lahore two years ago.

After sending back India’s top 3, Pakistan believed they will force an unlikely victory. Saurav Ganguly, under immense pressure to justify his selection, walked in next. Both Ganguly and Tendulkar started in aggressive manner, but their partnership was short-lived as Tendulkar was undone by an Asif delivery that once again dipped in sharply and kept a little low as it floored the batting legend.

Yuvraj and Ganguly then played aggressively as they formed a 103-run partnership, safely seeing off the second session. Razzaq, who looked fresh and eager to do well in the test snapped up Ganguly on the first ball after tea. And from then on, it was all downhill for the visitors as none of the lower order bats managed to support Yuvraj Singh who struck a courageous ton in the face of some inspiring displays of seam and swing by Asif and Razzaq. Shoaib bowled at relentless pace but was undisciplined, bowling a barrage of deliveries that were too short to trouble the opposition batsmen.

In the final few overs of fourth day’s play, Abdul Razzaq completed a neat four-wicket haul when Yuvraj Singh failed to pull a ball giving Akmal another catch. This capped a most dynamic comeback by Pakistan after looking terribly out of the game at 39 for 6 in the opening session of the match. The Green Caps secured a record win of 341 runs against their arch-rivals who folded for 265. India’s highly touted middle order once again crumbled under pressure and the Indian bowling also left much to be desired. The Indian medium-pacers, after a jaw-dropping first innings exhibit of seam and swing with the new ball, were unsuccessful in keeping a consistent line and length the second time around. For Pakistan, it was their fourth consecutive unbeaten series – a run starting from their last tour to India in 2005. With this win, Pakistan stayed at fourth in ICC Test Championship whereas India fell from second to third with England yet again holding the second spot.

© Copyright 2006. PointCricket.