As the post World Cup 2003 figures (in graph) prove, Pakistan is some distance ahead of India in pulling off day-night wins. India isn’t too bad when batting first but they fall short too often when chasing. And, as the figures through the three phases show, the critical factor is represented in the balls-per-wicket column. For Pakistan, on the other hand, the indices are evened out, not making for too much of a bottleneck at any stage.The other thing that becomes important in a one-dayer is the partnership factor. If India haven’t chased well in day-nighters, it’s mainly because they haven’t been able to stitch together enough substantial partnerships. And also because batsmen haven’t managed to score too many centuries in day-night matches, especially when chasing.While India have managed one century partnership for the first wicket while batting first and two while chasing, the figures go down as we move down the batting order. For the second wicket, India have scored three hundred partnerships while batting first and none chasing; for the third, one and none; for the fourth, three and none; and for the fifth, two and one.Pakistan, despite being a bowler-heavy side, go through primarily because, unlike the Indians, they have all-rounders batting till number eight or nine and that’s where chases are carried through or otherwise.India win 65 per cent of their matches while batting first, and the same number when these are played under lights. But while chasing, their win percentage is 50, though in day-nights it is 37.50. For Pakistan, the day-night win percentage is 80 and 75, while batting first and chasing respectively.
