The V V Special gift is unwrapped in Lahore when it’s needed most

Not only was this Laxman’s fifth one-day century this season, it was the third time he’d played a part in modern Indian cricket history: think Eden Gardens 2001, Adelaide 2003 and now this.

‘‘The ball was stopping and coming on the bat’’, an exhausted but exhilarated Laxman said after the match. ‘‘The main idea was to keep wickets especially for last five overs. I am glad I came good finally in the series and it helped the team win.’’

In full flow, there is no better sight than Laxman as the Australian cricket team would vouch for. And he’s been in flow for the past six-odd months, starting with the Mohali Test against New Zealand in October. In many ways he has been the player of the Indian season.

His fairytale innings in Australia made Steve Waugh pull his hair out in frustration in his last series as a player and captain and he wondered what had to be done get Laxman out of the way.

A feeling no doubt shared by Inzamam Ul Haq on Wednesday. Of all the stars in India’s galactic batting line-up, Inzamam had least reckoned on Laxman — in woeful touch so far — scoring the vital century. But he got into the groove, even as wickets fell at the other end, and put his trademark flicks off the leg and the cover drive to good effect.

Dropped when on 52 off Razzaq by Taufeeq Umer at deep midwicket, Laxman made use of the good luck coming his way. Though he started suffering from cramps in the middle of the innings, physiotherapist Andrew Leipus got working on him during the second drinks break.

As the scoring rate looked like dropping when skipper Saurav Ganguly got out, Laxman got into the act again. The shot with which he moved from 95 to 99, a late cut off Shoaib Malik, showed his class. The moment he reached his hundred he raised his arms in triumph, as if to say ‘‘Here I am, I’ve arrived and you can’t wish me away.’’