Day 1 ReportThe test series is finally here and Day 1 belonged to India and Kumble. Losing the toss, the home team was asked to field first. However, that turned out to be a blessing in disguise as the seamers ripped through the Pakistani top order with Zaheer Khan doing most of the damage and Munaf Patel providing able support.

After the Pakistanis were reduced to 83/5, there looked to be no recovery and the Indian bowlers continued to apply the pressure. A classy knock from Misba ul-Haq saved the day for the visitors as they managed to reach 210/8 in 85.4 overs with Mohammad Sami offering some resistance.

Before the day began, India were on the backfoot due to RP Singh and Sreesanth not being able to prove match fitness. India then had to go with Munaf Patel who was called in as replacement. I would have loved to see Irfan Pathan back in the team on the back of his terrific comeback into the ODI team. However, Munaf justified his inclusion by bowling a tight line and length and supported Zaheer Khan superbly.

Pakistan were on the defensive and did not even go after Saurav Ganguly who was allowed to pluck a couple of wickets to further add pressure on the fragile tail. Hats off to Mohammad Sami who did not lose his wicket to some probing bowling from skipper Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh.

Day 2 Report

After a strong fightback late on Day 1, Pakistan succumbed fairly quickly and their innings folded at 231 all out. Misbah and Sami had put on a very valuable 87 run partnership that could prove to be match-defining in the final result.

India, on the other hand, had done well to wrap up the Pakistan innings quickly. The team must have been feeling extremely confident to put on a big lead. However they did not account for Shoaib Akhtar and Sohail Tanveer who was playing his first ever test match.

Shoaib started proceedings by picking up Dinesh Karthik caught behind by Akmal. Rahul Dravin and Wasim Jaffer then proceeded to add 58 runs and both were looking good when Akhtar struck agai. Jaffer was given LBW to a delivery that would have crashed into his middle and leg stumps. Sohail Tanveer then began his second spell and the Indian top order collapsed. Tendulkar, Ganguly and Dravid followed soon after and India were reduced to 93/5.

Dhoni joined Laxman and the two went about a rebuilding process ensuring firstly that India did not lose any more wickets. The two put on a century partnership and saved India the blushes. Pakistan then fought back and got Dhoni before the day ended and India finished on 229/6. Still 2 runs behind and Laxman batting, India should put on another 100 runs if the tailenders give enough support to him. Any lead of 100+ would prove to be significant as batting last on this wicket is not going to be easy at all.

Day 3 Report

If Day 2 belonged to Pakistan, Day 3 belonged to the Indians again. At start of play, India had 4 wickets in hand and with VVS Laxman well set. However, the Indians failed to capitalize on this position and could only muster up a 45 run first innings lead. Only Kumble provided any support to Laxman, the rest of the tail collapsed meekly.

Pakistan’s bowlers had done a terrific job to restrict India to less than 300 in the first innings. Laxman was stranded on an unbeaten 72. Pakistan then started very positively as their openers got rid of the deficit in no time. Indians were wondering if this match had started to slip away. However, as is the case in any India-Pakistan encounter, there was another twist to the tale. Anil Kumble picked up the top order and Pakistan never recovered from there as wickets kept falling at regular intervals.

Once again it was Misbah’s defiant knock that saved the blushes for the visiting team. Pakistan ended the day at 212/5. Anil Kumble was the most successful bowler for India picking up 3 wickets.

Day 4 Report

With 5 wickets in hand and Misbah still on the crease, Pakistan would have wanted to put a target of over 300. For that they needed a big partnership between Kamran Akmal and Misbah ul-Haq. However, that was not to be as Kamran played an irresponsible shot that went straight to Yuvraj at point. From there on, the Pakistanis completely lost the plot. Saurav Ganguly was given the new ball in the middle of his over and he instantly rewarded that decision by picking up Misbah and a couple of balls later, Mohammad Sami. Danish Kaneria was then run out by some smart piece of wicketkeeping from Mahendra Singh Dhoni.

Pakistan needed a strong start by Shoaib Akhtar and the Rawalpindi Express did not disappoint his fans. Dinesh Karthik was caught behind in the very first over of the innings. India were 2/1 and trouble was brewing. What Pakistan wanted was another quick wicket, but both Jaffer and Dravid played extremely well and started scoring at a fast rate once they saw off a probing spell from Shoaib Akhtar. Jaffer reached his 8th test century and his first against Pakistan. He was, however, dismissed soon after. India then lost Dravid straight after tea and the score was 93/3. All the wickets had fallen to one-man show Shoaib Akhtar.

Saurav Ganguly joined Sachin Tendulkar and the old pros ensured that there would be no further hiccups in the run chase. Ganguly was at his best as he sweetly timed the ball to all parts of the park. Tendulkar took some time getting into his groove, however, before late he too was taking the bowling apart. Had it not been for bad light, the match would not, in fact should not, have reached day 5.

Day 5 Report

Nothing much to report here as Ganguly fell early on in the day, but with only 32 runs required at start of play Tendulkar and Laxman took India to an emphatic 6 wicket win. Anil Kumble got the man of the match. The Indian skipper had a field day throught the match on his “lucky” ground picking up 7 wickets in the match and scoring a valuable 24 runs in the first innings. More importantly, his captaincy was spot on. Being a bowler he knows when to attack and when to defend. His real test will be in the next match when Pakistan will look to come back.

Click here for the full scorecard

Day 1 Highlights

Day 2 Highlights

Day 3 Highlights

Day 4 Highlights

Day 5 Highlights and Presentation Ceremony

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