news details |
|
|
| India takes firm control of second Test | | | Kolkata | Nov 30
Wasim Jaffer slammed a majestic unbeaten 192 as India took firm control of the second cricket Test against Pakistan by laying the foundation for a mammoth first innings total here on Friday.
The 29-year-old Jaffer notched up his fifth Test century as he stole the limelight with some breathtaking shots while Sachin Tendulkar (82) and Rahul Dravid (50) chipped in with notable contributions to steer the home team to a commanding 352 for three at close on the opening day.
Local hero Sourav Ganguly (17) was giving Jaffer company when play was called off early due to bad light with 5.3 overs still remaining to be bowled.
Electing to bat, the Indians lost opener Dinesh Kaarthick (1) cheaply but the other batsmen made the most of the ideal batting track at the Eden Gardens to put the team in the driver's seat.
Imperious form
Jaffer seemed to be in imperious form as he first added 136 runs with Dravid for the second wicket and then stitched 175 runs for the third wicket with Tendulkar against an insipid Pakistani bowling attack.
Pakistan's gamble to include Shoaib Akhtar, who had not fully recovered from a viral infection, proved quite costly as the temparamental fast bowler could manage to bowl just nine overs during the day.
None of the Pakistani bowlers could really make much of an impact as the Indians scored at a brisk pace to compound the misery for stand-in captain Younis Khan, who led the team after Shoaib Malik was ruled out of the match because of an ankle injury.
Jaffer, who seemed in sublime touch right from the morning, completed his fifth ton in 24 Tests with a cover driven boundary of spinner Danish Kaneria about half an hour before the tea break.
The landmark was posted in 212-minutes and the Mumbai right hander raised his willow in celebration and struck two more fours in the over which produced 12 runs.
The Indians suffered an early jolt when Kaarthick returned to the pavilion in the day's very second over. Sohail Tanvir got rid of the batsman with his opening delivery that angled away from Kaarthick who gave an edged and Younis made no mistake in taking the low catch at second slip.
Jaffer and Dravid then pulverised the Pakistan bowlers with a series of elegant shots as India reached 104 for 1 at lunch.
Dravid, who gave signals of returning to form in the first Test at Ferozeshah Kotla, unleashed a barrage of classy strokes with a cut, a pull, a steer and a majestic cover drive bringing the crowd of 30 thousand at the Eden Gardens to its feet.
The precision timing and beauty of his shots made batting look very simple.
Jaffer, who made batting look simple with precision time and beauty of his shots. He tormented pacer Tanvir by hitting four beautifully executed boundaries in the bowler's seventh over which produced 16 runs.
Pakistan were forced to leave out skipper Shoaib Malik who was yet to recover from an ankle sprain, and Faisal Iqbal made it to the team, with Younis Khan taking on the captain's mantle.
Another miss by Tendulkar
Tendulkar started quietly but let loose a couple of wonderful strokes to complete his half century and while he was inching closer to three figure mark before being bowled by Kaneria.
Tendulkar, who had scored 975 runs against Pakistan before this match, reached the 1000-run milestone against the neighbouring country at the fag end of the session.
Controversial decision
Dravid fell to a controversial decision in the post lunch session in which the hosts added 102 runs to their lunch total.
Dravid, who got to his 49th Test half century with a single off Kaneria, fell at the same score as he tried to play at a delivery that was spinning away after pitching on the off stump and wicket-keeper Kamran Akmal grabbed what he claimed to be a 'catch'.
Umpire Billy Doctrove upheld the appeal, but TV replays showed that there was daylight between the bat and the ball.
A dejected and surprised Dravid started a long trek back to the dressing room, as curtains dropped on his 171-minute vigil at the wicket.
The former Indian captain faced 117 deliveries and hit seven boundaries, in the process stitching together a 136-run second wicket stand with Jaffer.
The Pakistani bowling attack looked lackluster with Akhtar looking fatigued after sending down only two overs between lunch and tea. Other bowlers also failed to make an impression. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
