Shukla spoils Pakistan’s hopes of batting practice

Kochi, Feb 11: Laxmi Ratan Shukla struck twice in successive overs to spoil Pakistan's hopes of a prolonged batting session. He first rem...

Kochi, Feb 11: Laxmi Ratan Shukla struck twice in successive overs to spoil Pakistan’s hopes of a prolonged batting session. He first removed Inzamam-ul Haq, who was easing into a murderous mood, then scalped Azhar Mahmood and it required an the effective rescue man in Moin Khan to take Pakistan to a respectable total.

Pakistan declared their first innings at 247 for nine and at the end of the first day of the three-day match Board President’s XI were 35 for no loss before bad light stopped play when three overs remained to be bowled in the day. The loss of 45 minutes in the morning due to a damp spot on the wicket called for an extended day’s play.

Pakistan’s strategy for the match was obvious. They needed to give some of their batsmen who badly needed to listen to the reassuring thud of the ball on the middle of the bat and then give some of the bowlers time to get tuned in before the matches ahead.

Everything fell in lace for the visitors right from winning the toss. Shahid Afridi, the man withtwinkling reflexes, kicked-off the proceedings with a square drive and a crisp square cut that must have given Shukla a wake up call.

Afridi gambled a bit too much and a bit too early and paid the price. Shukla got one to seam away and it took the edge of Afridi’s flashing blade lodging safely into wicketkeeper MSK Prasad’s gloves. Pakistan suffered another quick blow when Mohammed Naved, who was all at sea especially against Debashish Mohanty, fell to the same bowler.

At 44 for two, both Saeed Anwar and Wajahatullah Wasti decided to put their heads down for a while before trying out their strokes. They put on 50 runs (106 balls, 68 minutes) for the third wicket with Wasti unusually playing the lead role. The youngster, who was given a reprieve by skipper Hrishikesh Kanitkar, who dropped him at slip, looked compact.

Anwar got into his stride and runs flowed. He struck left-arm spinner Kartik Murali over the sightscreen for a six and just when he seemed to have set his sights on a big score, he holed outto mid off.

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There seemed to be a pattern in the dismissals and revival of the innings. Wasti followed Anwar at the same score leaving Inzamam-ul Haq to do the repair job. He found, first in Yousuf Youhanna and then in skipper Moin Khan, useful partners.

Inzamam took his chances and escaped with it. He was let off once by Kanitkar at slip and again his lofted shot fell short of Kartik Murali at mid wicket. This was interspersed by some splendid, clean hitting. In Inzamam’s 63-run stand with Youhanna, the latter’s contribution was only nine. Tipped to be Pakistan’s future batting star, Youhanna fell to KN Ananthapadmanabhan who bowled his initial overs well even managing to keep Inzamam on the leash.

Moin Khan joined Inzamam in their run-hunt. They sorted out both Ananthapadmanabhan and Murali and added 42 runs for the sixth wicket before Shukla got into the act. He first had Inzamam (65: 105b, 110m, 8×4) edging to Khoda at slip and then found the groping bat of Azhar Mahmood on the way to Prasad’sgloves.

Moin (67: 76b, 108m, 8×4, 1×6) declared immediately after his dismissal, top edging a cut to Mohammed Kaif at deep point.

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In fading light, the Board President’s XI openers Gagan Khoda and Shiv Sundar Das played with a great deal of confidence promising a good contest tomorrow. Pakistan, in the short time available, managed to give both their speedsters Shoaib Akhtar and Azhar Mahmood and spinners Mushtaq ahmed and Nadeem Khan a feel of the conditions.

Scoreboard

Pakistan (1st innings): Mohammed Naved c Khoda b Mohanty 6 (34b, 55m, 1×4), Shahid Afridi c Prasad b Shukla 14 (16b, 25m, 3×4), Wajahatullah Wasti c Kanitkar b Murali 28 (63b, 99 m, 4×4), Saeed Anwar c Yadav b Kanitkar 40 (60b, 69m, 3×4, 1×6), Inzamam-ul Haq c Khoda b Shukla 65 (105b, 110m, 8×4), Yousaf Youhanna c Das b Ananthapadmanabhan 9 (74b, 75m), Moin Khan c Kaif b Mohanty 67 (76b, 108m, 8×4, 2×6), Azhar Mahmood c Prasad b Shukla 0 (7b, 11m), Mushtaq Ahmed st Prasad b Murali 3 (41b, 40m), Shoaib Akhtar (not out) 3 (12b,14m); Extras: (nb-10, lb-2): 12.

Total (declared for 9 wickets decl in 78.4 overs, 294 minutes): 247.

Fall of wickets: 1-17 (Afridi: 5.5), 2-44 (Naved: 10.2), 3-94 (Anwar: 27.4), 4-94 (Wasti: 28.2), 5-157 (Youhanna: 53), 6-199 (Inzamam: 64.3), 7-205 (Azhar Mahmood: 66.5), 8-225 (Mushtaq: 75.3), 9-247 (Moin Khan: 78.4).

Bowling: Mohanty 12.4-6-32-2, Shukla 12-2-55-3, Yadav 5-1-12-0, Kartik 26-5-69-2, Kanitkar 6-0-21-1, Sehwag 6-1-22-0, Ananthapadmanabhan 11-1-34-1.

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Board President’s XI (1st innings): SS Das (batting) 14 (36b, 43m, 2×4), Gagan Khoda (batting) 12 (18b, 43m, 2×4); Extras: (nb-6, lb3): 9.

Total: (for no loss in 8 overs, 43 minutes): 35.

Bowling: Shoaib Akhtar 3-0-5-0, Azhar Mahmood 3-0-11-0, Mustaq Ahmed 1-0-2-0, Nadeem Khan 1-0-7-0.