Get Sports News Via RSS

>>>ematchfixing>>Cricket>>News>

Pakistan do a Kamal, pile up 312

The honours went to Pakistan on day one of the Mohali Test as they finished with 312, a total they will be happy with after being reduced to 191/6 at one stage. India would be hurting after having lost the early advantage that their new ball bowlers produced but would also be relieved that the Pak tail did not wag for too long.

For India L. Balaji making a return to Test cricket after being out of circulation due to injury, returned the best figures, claiming five wickets for just 72 runs.

For Pakistan Asim Kamal, coming at number six, played the innings of his life making a fine 91 studded with 14 hits to the fence. Early on, skipper Inzamam stemmed the rot for Pakistan with a patient 57 from 93 balls before he was trapped lbw by Anil Kumble.

But the seamers carried the day for India with Balaji (5 for 72), Irfan Pathan (2 wkts: Salman Butt and Yousuf Youhana) and Zaheer Khan (1 wicket of Younis Khan) taking 8 wickets between themselves.

Anil Kumble the lone specialist spinner managed to take the wickets of Inzamam and Kamran Akmal.

Put in to bat by Sourav Ganguly, Pakistan got off to a poor start with Salman Butt bowled by Irfan Pathan for 5 with the score reading at 11/1. Zaheer Khan and L. Balaji then got into the act by dismissing Younis Khan and Taufeeq Umar respectively.

India dominated proceedings for the better half of the day but once again the inability of the bowlers to get through the lower middle order proved costly. The finishing was missing and between themselves the last six Pak batsmen scored a whopping 171 runs out of the total of 312.