Post-tea Prasad answers Indian prayers

Umpire Steve Dunne at the bowler’s end consulted his colleague VK Ramaswamy and the two got in touch with third umpire AV Jayaprakash, who on seeing the TV replays, declared that the catch was clean. Dunne then declared Ijaz out.

Aggressive Afridi went for the bowling, and Haq too made his intentions clear at the start byfluently driving Kumble and Srinath to the fence. Again, under pressure, the Indian fielding wilted.

Afridi latched on to a Sunil Joshi delivery and banished it high into the D stand. In the next over, he hit another huge six off Kumble, straight into the press box. The manner in which Afridi batted, there was bound to be some playing and missing and the occasional miscued shots. At 60, he had a stroke of good fortune when he was dropped by Joshi off his own bowling.

Just when the two batsmen had the Indian bowling at their mercy, Haq was given out by Dunne, caught at silly-point off Sachin Tendulkar, who had just been brought on in a bid to break the stand. Inzamam-ul Haq made his displeasure obvious as he walked ever so slowly back to the pavilion.Yousuf Youhana dominated a fourth wicket partnership of 30 runs before in trying to sweep Tendulkar, he dragged the full toss on to the stumps. But just as the Test match seemed to be swinging India’s way, came the partnership that wrested the initiative fromthem.

Salim Malik got entrenched and he was just the partner Afridi needed at this juncture. For one thing, the Pakistan innings had reached a critical phase and secondly, Afridi was nearing his century. The two made an interesting contrast for Malik, playing in his 101st Test while Afridi in only his 2nd. But showing the temperament of a veteran, Afridi raced towards his century with some breathtaking strokes. When 92, he swung Kumble high over square-leg for his third six. In the mood that he was, he could not be denied his maiden Test century.

By now, the Indians were virtually down and out as Afridi, helped by encouraging words from Malik, waded into the attack, doing pretty much what he wanted. One particular `paddle’ shot, with which he swept Laxman to the vacant fine-leg boundary epitomised his confidence.

Shortly after tea, with Pakistan on 275 for four, it seemed that the match had been irrevocably decided in their favour, but within minutes, the match was turned on its head. In trying to chopJoshi, Malik could not keep the ball down and he was brilliantly caught left-handed by Dravid at slip. And now from nowhere, as it seemed, came on the scene a most unlikely hero to fashion an incredible twist to the script.

Venkatesh Prasad had done little of note so far in the match. He had none for 54 in the first innings, had not bowled particularly well and had only the wicket of Saeed Anwar last evening to show for his efforts.

In the over following the dismissal of Malik, he had Moin Khan edging a rising delivery. In his next over, he ended Afridi’s long innings when the batsman played across only to lose his off stump. Two balls later, he had Saqlain leg before.

Left only with two tailenders, Akram, now committed to go for runs, essayed a big hit but only succeeded in ballooning the ball and Joshi from square leg completed a well-judged catch. And in his next over, Prasad had Younis caught at mid-off. Astonishingly, Pakistan from the opulence of 275 for five were suddenly all out for 286.

Butthe day’s drama did not end there. When India commenced their victory quest, Younis, looking very different from the out-of-form bowler he had been in the first innings, dismissed both the Indian openers in successive overs.

Six for two was no way to start a target of 271 runs, but Dravid and Tendulkar weathered the storm until the sun’s glare through the Western stands halted play early for the second day in succession. Tomorrow’s play has all the makings of a Hitchcock suspense.