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Maiden five-for for Balaji, but Pakistan pile up decent total at Mohali

Returning from an injury lay-off, Lakshmipathy Balaji took his maiden five-wicket haul in Test cricket, but Pakistan piled up a decent total in their first innings after being reduced to 156/5 on the first day of the first Test at the PCA Stadium in Mohali on March 8.

With half of their side back in the pavillion with just 156 runs on the board, Pakistan did well by scoring 312 runs before being bowled out after Indian skipper Sourav Ganguly won the toss and put them in on a greentop.

Left arm seamer Irfan Pathan struck the first blow just 30 minutes into the Test when he clean bowled Salman Butt for 5. Irfan’s statemate and new ball partner Zaheer Khan then soon removed Pakistani vice-captain Younis Khan leg before for 9.

Pakistani opener Taufeeq Umar added 59 runs for the third wicket with his skipper Inzamam-ul-Haq before he edged a Balaji delivery onto his stumps in the last over before Lunch. Umar scored 44.

After Lunch, Pathan resumed his duel with Yousuf Youhana and won the first round when he had him caught behind by Dinesh Karthik for 6.

But Inzamam along with Asim Kamal steadied the Pakistani ship to an extent by adding 52 runs for the fifth wicket. In the process, the Pakistani captain reached his 37th 50, third against India. Inzamam made batting look very easy and played the Indian fast bowlers with remarkable ease with all the time in the world.

But Anil Kumble struck just when Inzamam (57) was starting to look dangerous trapping him plumb in front of the wicket. The great leggie has now dismissed Inzamam 5 times in 6 Tests.

Abdul Razzaq played a breezy knock of 26 off just 24 balls hitting five fours when just before Tea Balaji had him caught behind by Karthik.

Kumble then struck again having Kamran Akmal (15) caught at first slip by Rahul Dravid.

Mohammad Sami added 43 valuable runs for the eighth wicket with Kamal before the second new ball got due.

Ganguly promptly took the second new ball and handed it over to Balaji. The tall right arm seamer responded with shattering Sami’s (20) stumps in the first over with the second new ball.

All this while, it was Kamal who held one end up reaching his third half-century against India. The left-hander batted superbly pulling, cutting and driving with supreme confidence. But before he could reach his maiden Test hundred, Balaji sent one ball ‘through the gate’ to castle his stumps. Kamal top scored for his team with a superb 91.

In the next over Balaji completed his maiden five-wicket haul trapping Naved-ul-Hasan (11) plumb in front of the wicket.

Balaji took 5/76 as Danish Kaneria remained not out on 8.

Ganguly’s decision to play with three seamers and leaving out Harbhajan Singh bore fruit as Balaji, Pathan and Zaheer took 8 wickets between them.

But the pitch has now eased out. Yes, there will be little moisture in the pitch tomorrow in the early hours but after that it will become a good batting track. The famed Indian batting line-up should be looking to pile up a huge score.