Bucknor pokes finger in Indian pie

Despite a clear gap between Sachin’s bat and the ball; and with neither wicket-keeper Kamran Akmal nor the slip fielders appealing, Bucknor’s finger spoke and a distinctly shocked and disappointed Tendulkar walked off the ground with 52 against his name. Abdul Razzaq the bowler could not believe his luck as he screamed at Akmal for not appealing.

The fluent innings had a century written all over it but for Bucknor’s finger. The novelty of his innings was that he did not play in the V at all today and all his runs were behind the wicket and through covers and mid-wicket as he raced to his 41st half-century.

With clouds gathering overhead, Tendulkar complained about the light but umpires Darrel Hair and Bucknor stood their ground.

Minutes later he was gone to a decision that could probably play a decisive role in the match and soon enough play was suspended due to bad light.

With the ball swinging away immediately after passing the bat, it probably gave Bucknor the impression of deviating. Bad light made matters worse.

On a wicket where batsmen who get in, should really stay put and make a huge score, it was important for the Rahul Dravid -Sachin Tendulkar pair to stay together at stumps to convert this Test into a one-sided affair in India’s favour.

History shows that the highest fourth innings total successfully chased at the Eden is 120-2 by India against South Africa last year.

Against South Africa in 1996-97, India chasing 466 were bowled out for 137, against Pakistan chasing 278 they were dismissed for 232 and Australia chasing 383 during the 2001 series were knocked out for 212 on the last day of the Test.

With India already 147 runs ahead, the result should be nothing but a victory for India.

But the last day of the Mohali Test and the second day’s play in Kolkata has shown that this Pakistan outfit is not going to roll over without a fight.

If Ganguly and VVS Laxman can find some form and support a well-set Dravid at the crease tomorrow for even a session and a half, India will have set a 300 plus target for the Pakistanis to chase on the last two days of the Test.

If Pakistan get Dravid early tomorrow morning, the game could again turn intriguing, if the target is anything between 200 and 250.

Pakistan lost their last six wickets for just 46 runs and with the pitch assisting spinners, Danish Kaneria and Shahid Afridi could actually make all the difference tomorrow.

Lakshmipathy Balaji yet again proved to be India’s most dependable bowler in this series. Seventeen minutes into the third morning he got India the breakthrough that they so badly needed, trapping overnight centurion Yousuf Youhana in front.

Irfan Pathan then chipped in claiming the crucial wicket of Inzamam Ul Haq before the spinners got stuck in.

For the first time in the series, India got off to a bad start. For the first time in the series, Sami bowled well. His opening spell was deadly and knocked over the openers cheaply. If only he had better support at the other end, the result would have been very interesting.

Inzamam Ul Haq strangely enough persisted with Mohammad Khalil and in fact started the second innings with him. But the result was a ruthless mauling at the hands of Virender Sehwag. Razzaq, who enjoyed success in the previous innings, would have been a better choice for the new ball with Sami.

THE DAY IN A MINUTE

FIRST SESSION
O-29, R-81, W-3
Dream start to Day Three for India. Youhana and Inzamam fall to pacers Balaji and Pathan. As a bonus, Sachin-Sourav combination fashions a brilliant run out to dismiss the in-form Asim Kamal. Pakistan’s plan of taking the lead almost disappear

SECOND SESSION
O-26.1, R-75, W-7
The best session for the bowlers so far in the series. While the Indian spinners — Kumble (3) and Harbhajan (2) — polished off the remaining five wickets, India take a 14-run lead. Pakistan pacer Sami strikes back to get rid of the Indian openers

THIRD SESSION
O-25.3, R-97, W-1
This session sees least number of overs bowled but the maximum number of runs scored. The only dismissal after tea was that of Tendulkar. But there were many at Eden believed that the wicket should be credited to umpire Steve Bucknor

Prime Number
120 That what the Pakistan batsmen managed today while losing eight wickets. That is a far cry from the expectation at the end of second day’s play. Indians managed the impossible, thanks to a brilliant team effort. Pacers getting the early breakthrough, spinners taking care of the lower order and, of course, that relay run out to dismiss Asim Kamal

Spell Check
MOHAMMAD SAMI
O-4, M-2, R-10, W-2
After Pakistan had lost the initiative by conceding the lead, Sami brought his team back in the match by a brilliant first spell. In the four overs before tea the Pakistan pacer dismissed Gautam Gambhir and then the ever-dangerous Virender Sehwag. With his first ball of the innings he had Gambhir playing over a yorker length ball to lose his stumps. On the third ball of his next over Sehwag was out played on — beaten by the bounce as the ball rolled on to his stumps as he went for a cut