32 minutes, 38 balls; job done, India go 1-0 up

It was quite an amusing sight as they walked out together from the pavilion to bat on Monday morning.

It was quite an amusing sight as they walked out together from the pavilion to bat on Monday morning. Protected from head to toe, looking ready and eager to take the pace and spin head-on. And when they returned after a successful venture—albeit at the nets —there was not a single spectator left at the Ferozeshah Kotla to acknowledge Zaheer Khan and Munaf Patel’s efforts.

Because bigger things had been achieved before that. Sachin Tendulkar and VVS Laxman had completed the real job in hand, with a run-a-minute effort.

They needed only 38 deliveries today morning to get the remaining 32 runs for victory. Individually, there were some who performed and some who didn’t, but overall Team India got together to get a victory over Pakistan.

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Tendulkar reached to his half ton, while Sourav Ganguly fell tragically short by two. But Team India’s six-wicket victory for their highest run-chase is an apt reflection to their one-up stance in this series.

The little duration of play today saw the maximum exertion of limbs; the teams had come out with a positive attitude of accumulating some further insight into each other ahead of the next Test in Kolkata.

Shoaib Akhtar banged in furiously to get the wicket of Ganguly, whose half-effort in adjusting to the hook shot resulted in the ball going straight down the throat of Sohail Tanvir at long-leg on the third ball he faced this morning.

Akhtar, who picked up four this innings to take his tally to six, and Mohammad Sami, had more short stuff in store for Tendulkar. But the little master had other ideas and his ninth hit to the fence got the winning runs and took his total to 56.

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Tendulkar started from where he left off yesterday, only his mood was more aggressive. Having rediscovered his penchant for hooking the ball since the England tour, the India No 4 didn’t hesitate to pivot on his backfoot and have a swing at those aimed at him.

Resuming on 32, he reached his 50 today off 106 balls. The 18 runs he scored today came off 20 balls.

It was two minutes past ten, and the early turnout had ample time to reach their respective offices to start a fresh week—on a winning note. The teams meanwhile look forward to a new start, at a new place come the weekend.

Scoreboard

Pakistan 1st innings 231

India 1st innings 276

Pakistan 2nd innings 247

India 2nd innings:

(overnight 171/3)

S Tendulkar not out 56

S Ganguly c Tanvir b Akhtar 48

V Laxman not out 6

Extras (b1,lb3, nb1) 5

Total (for 4 wkts, 61.1 overs) 203

Fall of wickets: 1-2, 2-84, 3-93, 4-181.