India pulled off a 195-run win against Pakistan on a day that promised to be the most exciting of all the days of the Test but turned out to be the most one-sided. Two people fooled the Pakistani batsmen. Shahid Afridi had them all fooled when he scored at a blistering pace on the fourth evening of the Test making the surreal seem within grasp. He made the pitch immaterial; the history of fourth innings chases inconsequential. Then with the first ball of the day Anil Kumble brought the pitch and the target back into the equation. He fooled six more batsmen today and returned figures of 7-63. Inside the first minute of play there were suddenly just two results possible; an Indian win or a draw. Younis Khan was brilliantly stumped by Dinesh Kaarthick for a duck. His world came crashing down. So did Inzamam’s. Later at the press conference, the Pakistani skipper admitted that Younis Khan’s dismissal really put the side under pressure and boosted the confidence of the Indian team. In a brave move, Inzamam walked out to take guard ahead of Yousuf Youhana at the fall of Younis’ wicket but Kumble had his number too before lunch. Another wicket that of Taufiq Umar fell in the session and Pakistan went to lunch at 174-4 with a task that seemed to get larger with every passing minute. The post-lunch session really hurt the Pakistanis when they lost four wickets for 49 runs. And though 195 seems a huge victory margin, a look at the number of overs remaining for the day on the huge scoreboard told another story. All Pakistan needed was one century-partnership: two batsmen out of eight to stand in the middle and bat for time. It had been done before; it could have been done today. When the last wicket fell at 2.53 in the afternoon, Pakistan had to bat for just another 19 overs or another hour and a half to save the match. But none of the batsmen applied themselves. Today Pakistan had no heroes. Yousuf Youhana and Asim Kamal threatened to do that briefly when they stitched together a 63-run partnership but eventually the pressure of the fifth day was too much for their capillaries. Inzamam blamed the batting after it failed to capitalise on the great start given by Younis Khan and Youhana. ‘‘If we had got 500 runs in the first innings the result of this Test would have been different,’’ Inzamam said. What really hurt Pakistan was the fact that there was no combined effort from the batsmen, who Inzamam believed are in form. The reason for defeat was laid squarely at the feet of the ineffective spinners by the skipper. Ever since Danish Kaneria picked six wickets in the first innings at Mohali, he has struggled against the Indian batsmen. Afridi though is not a specialist spinner and he was never expected to run through sides anyway. Arshad Khan could come into the picture for the Bangalore Test. But it is not all over as Rahul Dravid, correctly pointed out, adding that there is still a series to win. Bangalore has not been a happy venue for India. They have lost a series here to Pakistan in 1986-87 and to South Africa in 1999-2000 besides losing a Test to Australia in 1997-98 and earlier this season. Pakistan could be more dangerous from here because they have no choice but to win the Test and draw the series. THE DAY IN A MINUTE FIRST SESSION O-30, R-79, W-3 With Younis gone first ball of the day, it is uphill task from thereon. Kumble strangulates the batsmen, Balaji earns benefit. India’s forward march comes up against the dogged approach of Youhana and Kamal who pick up a few runs but also calm the frayed nerves SECOND SESSION O-34, R-49, W-4 The heavy lunch seems to have undone Youhana who falls early to hand India the advantage. Runs are at a premium, time is the major concern for Pakistan. Kamal, Sami do their bit by playing out quiet overs, but finally the writing is on the wall, as Kumble strikes again and again THIRD SESSION O-7.1, R-3, W-2 It is only a matter of time, and first ball after tea, Sami goes and it’s time up. The Indians have a spring in their stride and the cheers go up each time Kaneria and Khalil miss a ball. Finally another 43 balls later it is time for Indians to celebrate their first win over Pakistan at Eden Prime Number 7 The number of times Anil Kumble has dismissed Inzamam-Ul-Haq in the seven Test matches the old warriors have played against each other. Today was the third time Inzamam was out bowled to Kumble. With one more Test to go, here’s hoping it would not be the last of this battle with both the main characters pushing 35 Spell Check ANIL KUMBLE O-14, M-4, R-29, W-2 Anil Kumble’s unchanged opening spell for about an hour set the tone for the day. His relentless approach claimed dangermen Younis Khan and regular suspect Inzamam opening the floodgates. The pressure from Kumble even helped Balaji snap up Umar SCOREBOARD
