Pakistan v India, 2nd Test, Faisalabad, 5th day

India bat out a draw after Younis special

The Bulletin by Siddhartha Vaidyanathan in Faisalabad

January 25, 2006

Pakistan 588 and 490/8d (Younis 194, Yousuf 126, Akmal 78) drew with India 603 and 21/0

Scorecard and ball by ball details
How they were out

Younis Khan gorged on the Indian attack once again, but fell in the nervous 190s © Getty Images

In an ironical twist to a high-scoring Faisalabad Test, a packed house watched Pakistan amass a pile of runs in a pretty meaningless day of cricket. There was strokeplay to admire - Pakistan made 338 in close to 74 overs; there were two hundreds to cheer, taking the series aggregate to 12; and there were sixes to shout about, with a record 25 scored in the game. But none of this meant too much in the context of the game, one destined to end in a draw from the moment someone decided to prepare another chapatti-flat pitch.

Runs continued to flow throughout the day but the game reached a stage when part-timers like Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Younis Khan took the new ball, and when individual landmarks became the sole priority. Younis rode to his fourth hundred against India with an air of invincibility, Mohammad Yousuf completed his third hundred in as many Tests and, in no surprise, bowlers were roasted like several delicacies in these parts. India had something to cheer through Zaheer Khan, knocking over four wickets towards the end of the day, and batted out seven overs without losing any wickets, but the fact that 34 wickets have fallen so far in this series, when 40 often fall in a game, tells you something about the way events have panned out.

Younis did what he does best - torment the Indian bowlers. Resuming on 64, he coasted towards his century with the only blip coming on 82, when he survived a confident lbw appeal against Zaheer. It wasn't too long before he feasted on juicy offerings from Harbhajan Singh, jived to his hundred, and continued the run-glut in unrelenting fashion. Sprinting like a hare and clapping after every run, he cruised towards his double-hundred, troubled neither by pace nor spin. However, he fell six short, trapped in front by Rudra Pratap Singh, and showed that he does, in fact, have a weakness that India can exploit - the nervous 190s.

If Younis scores, can Yousuf be far behind? At the other end, Yousuf made most of two dropped chances - by Anil Kumble at gully and Rahul Dravid at first slip. He showed positive intent after completing his half-century, but applied the brakes as his hundred approached. Having reached 85 with a lofted six, he entered a circumspect zone, taking 33 balls to get the next 15. Considering Pakistan weren't even thinking of a declaration, it's tough to blame him for taking his time.

India's only joyous moment before tea came through Irfan Pathan, who turned in a much-improved spell this morning, managing swing and maintaining a line on and around off. He was unlucky not to have more than one wicket - Akmal flashing at an outswinger - with a catch being dropped and deliveries beating the batsmen but failing to take the edge. Zaheer was more successful, picking up a clatter of wickets at the end, when the only thing to look forward to was the end.

It capped a fine return to international cricket for Zaheer, bowling with verve throughout the game and giving India a potent option ahead of the third Test at Karachi. Rudra Pratap, the Man of the Match, had a fine debut, while Pathan, apart from his crucial batting contribution, got more dangerous with the ball as the match wore on. India will have an interesting dilemma ahead of the Karachi Test, provided of course they play the game on a sporting surface and not a tar road.

How they were out

Kamran Akmal c Kumble b Pathan 78 (181 for 2)
Drove a wide ball; well taken at gully, diving forward and latching on

Mohammad Yousuf run-out (Gambhir/Dhoni) 126 (423 for 3)
Went for a second but was beaten by an accurate throw from third man

Abdul Razzaq c Laxman b Zaheer 32 (488 for 4)
Flayed wildly at a wide one; straight to the lone slip

Shahid Afridi c Dhoni b Zaheer 1 (490 for 5)
Flashed at a wide ball

Younis Khan lbw b RP Singh 194 (490 for 6)
Missed a full ball on middle stump

Mohammad Asif b Zaheer 0 (490 for 7)
Under edged a short of a good-length ball

Danish Kaneria b Zaheer (490 for 8)
Shouldered arms to one that came in

Siddhartha Vaidyanathan is staff writer of Cricinfo

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