Page-turner reaches the final chapter

‘‘We will definitely go for a win but how we start the day is important. Pakistan has already lost a Test in the series. They have nothing to lose so they will also be going for a win,’’ says Laxman. India still has the opening pair of Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir at the crease and that is an intimidating poser for the Pakistani captain Inzamam Ul Haq.

With a blistering double century from Sehwag in the first innings, Inzamam worries about an encore. But coach Bob Woolmer knows that Sehwag who enjoys an average of 75 in the first innings has a dismal second innings average of 24.

If Pakistan can pick Sehwag early they will have a great chance to put the Indian batsmen under pressure by attacking them more forcefully.

Leg-spinner Danesh Kaneria who picked another five-wicket haul in this series believes that Rahul Dravid stood between victory and them on the last day.

But it is not going to be an easy target just the way it was a tough decision for Inzamam to decide on the target figure to set for the Indian batsmen what with the way the wicket played on day four of the Test.

This morning Pakistan picked up three quick wickets inside the first hour of play and almost had the last wicket of the Indian innings twice but for catches dropped by the keeper Kamran Akmal and Younis Khan behind the wicket.

The tenth wicket partnership of 53 runs between VVS Laxman and Anil Kumble hurt Pakistan as India batted well into lunch and it seemed at that juncture that the match was heading for a draw.

But the post lunch session belonged to Shahid Afridi who first bowled Kumble immediately to wrap up the Indian innings at 449. When he walked out to bat, Pakistan was ahead by 121 runs and there were five sessions yet to be played in the Test. Pakistan had to score quickly in less than two sessions and set India a tempting target for the remaining three sessions.

With an aggression that is as intriguing as it is intimidating, Afridi raced away to a breezy half-century — the fastest in Tests for any Pakistani batsman — of 26 balls. Yasir Hamid at the other end middling the ball beautifully kept the scoreboard pacing at a frenetic pace.

Today, Hamid was all silk, Afridi sledge-hammer. But both hurt India hard. Enter the prodigious leg spin of Sachin Tendulkar and Afridi was stumped at 58. The damage that the last Indian pair had done to Pakistan was annulled.

Younis Khan and Hamid got half-centuries at a good pace despite the negative bowling tactics of the Indian bowlers. But the Indian bowlers had no other option.

Coming from around the wicket they kept bowling into the rough outside leg stump, forcing Younis Khan to play some ugly yet productive shots. But his innings of 84 of 98 balls helped Inzamam make his decision to declare easier.

Inzamam declared the innings at 261-2 off 50 overs setting a target of 383 for the Indians to get.

The last day of the Kolkata Test was a one-sided affair with India taking the honours. Tomorrow it will be fitting to see the Test series conclude with some quality cricket – a highlight of this three match series.

THE DAY IN A MINUTE

FIRST SESSION
O-25, R-67, W-3
Pathan, Harbhajan, Balaji go for next to nothing. But Kumble’s stubborn approach aided by some sloppy Pakistan fielding let Indians have a relaxed lunch

SECOND SESSION
O-25.4, R-115, W-2
Afridi’s quicker one went through a confused Kumble’s bat. It was then the turn of Pathan and Balaji to pull their hair out as Afridi as tourists’ looked good to declare by evening

THIRD SESSION
O-34, R-174, W-1
A hassled Ganguly spread the field, Younis milked the runs as India had one eye on the score. Finally when the declaration came, India had to battle a tense six overs without mishap

Prime Number
351 The number of runs Younis Khan has scored in this Test so far. From being close to being dropped, Younis has come a long way. He is now one batsman sure of his place and his committment on the field has been a huge bonus. It is now upto Viru to upstage Younis’ record on a pulsating final day chase

Spell Check
IRFAN PATHAN
O-5, M-0, R-45, W-0
Irfan Pathan’s opening spell held the key for India to stall Pakistan’s march to declare by today evening. But Pathan was a huge disappointment, no swing meant he was up and down. Afridi just had to wind up to whack him for some easy runs. There was no doubt which Pathan won this battle