KOLKATA, March 18: It was Pakistan?s turn to feel the heat on Friday but a controversial dismissal of Sachin Tendulkar late on the third day could affect India?s chances in the second Test at the Eden Gardens.
West Indian umpire Steve Bucknor, standing in his 100th Test came in way of Tendulkar who was cruising along with Rahul Dravid and had put India well on their way for a good second innings total as the home team finished the day at 133 for three, a lead of 147 runs.
Pakistan had failed to make use of the fine work done by Younis Khan and Yousuf Youhana, and went down for 393, conceding a lead of 14 runs.
With the Eden Gardens pitch traditionally known to help the spinners late in the match the tourists could be in for trouble which they had already begun to face but the wicket of Tendulkar brought some cheer.
The ?Little Master? though was surprised and unhappy all the same the manner Bucknor adjudged him caught behind.
Hitting all around the park, almost at will with remarkable ease, the deadly Tendulkar was firing on all cylinders and together with Dravid had shared a 98-run stand for the third wicket when up went Bucknor?s agile finger as the umpire seemed deceived by the deviation of the ball from Abdul Razzaq and the ball did not seem to have touched the bat.
Tendulkar, who crossed the 10,000-run milestone in the first innings, fired nine perfectly-timed boundaries sending the fielders on a leather-hunt. His innings of 52 was the 41st of his illustrious career and the fifth against Pakistan.
Dravid?s bat continued to be on fire after his masterly century, and he roared his way to an impressive 54 blasting eight fours.
It was his 37th half century in 88 Tests and he was unbeaten at the close and with him was captain Saurav Ganguly who had scored four runs.
Seamer Muhammad Sami for once helped Pakistan make a sensational start, snaring the wickets of Gautam Gambhir and danger man Virender Sehwag with telling blows in his first two overs to leave India at 23-2 inside four overs and at tea India stood at 36 for two with Tendulkar and Dravid together.
Sami took a leaf out of Waqar Younis?s book of yorkers to send Gambhir on his way off the first ball of his first over for one and then had Sehwag play one on to his stumps after getting only 15 runs.
Sehwag, whose 173 was one of the striking features of the first Test, gave seamer Muhammad Khalil a typically ruthless treatment dispatching the hapless bowler for three boundaries in his opening over that produced 14 runs.
The Lahore-born Khalil, playing in only his second Test, got hammered for 32 runs in his six overs while Sami picked up the two that he did in the 10 that he bowled.
Pakistan?s progress after they had begun the day at 273 for two, was hampered because of the loss of three wickets before lunch including that of overnight century-maker Youhana, and Inzamam but Younis continued to look as dangerous as he was on the second day.
Batting on 145 at lunch along with Razzaq who was 2 not out, the Indian bowlers could do little to unnerve him as Pakistan were able to add 81 runs by the break when they were 354 for five.
Success came early for India, with a leg before decision of Youhana, the batsman not offering a shot to an incoming delivery from Balaji, just 17 minutes into the day. The former vice captain could add only three runs to his elegant innings of Thursday, falling for 104.
Much depended on Inzamam, who made substantial contributions in the drawn first Test at Mohali. He added 50 runs with Younis for the fourth wicket but a thick edge to wicket-keeper Dinesh Karthik off Pathan brought the demise of his innings at 30.
Later, a brilliant throw from the long on boundary by Sachin Tendulkar saw Asim Kamal short of his crease as he went for an unnecessary third run in the 91st over.
However, Pakistan?s problems were compounded further after tea with the dismissal of Younis for 147 just when he seemed headed to surpass his previous Test best of 153 as he played Anil Kumble into the hands of second slip VVS Laxman with the visitors past 350.
There was still hope with Abdul Razzaq and Kamran Akmal, whose record 184-run seventh wicket stand last week had saved the Mohali match for Pakistan, at the crease.
That could not be repeated though and the wicket-keeper, who scored 109 in that game, went for a duck this time. How fortunes change.
A victim of off spinner Harbhajan, Kamran was taken by Tendulkar at mid-on while Razzaq, who managed only 17, followed soon, Dravid obliging Kumble with a fine catch in the slips which left Pakistan at 378 for eight.
It was then only a matter of time and the Indians cleaned up the tail of Sami and Khalil 50 minutes before tea as the last six wickets fell for only 62 runs.
There was success for the Indian spinners who had toiled on the second day, Kumble snaring 3-98 and Harbhajan claiming 2-94.
A wicket each for the day was picked up by Pathan and Balaji , both returning innings figures of 2-90 and 2-81.
West Indian umpire Steve Bucknor, standing in his 100th Test came in way of Tendulkar who was cruising along with Rahul Dravid and had put India well on their way for a good second innings total as the home team finished the day at 133 for three, a lead of 147 runs.
Pakistan had failed to make use of the fine work done by Younis Khan and Yousuf Youhana, and went down for 393, conceding a lead of 14 runs.
With the Eden Gardens pitch traditionally known to help the spinners late in the match the tourists could be in for trouble which they had already begun to face but the wicket of Tendulkar brought some cheer.
The ?Little Master? though was surprised and unhappy all the same the manner Bucknor adjudged him caught behind.
Hitting all around the park, almost at will with remarkable ease, the deadly Tendulkar was firing on all cylinders and together with Dravid had shared a 98-run stand for the third wicket when up went Bucknor?s agile finger as the umpire seemed deceived by the deviation of the ball from Abdul Razzaq and the ball did not seem to have touched the bat.
Tendulkar, who crossed the 10,000-run milestone in the first innings, fired nine perfectly-timed boundaries sending the fielders on a leather-hunt. His innings of 52 was the 41st of his illustrious career and the fifth against Pakistan.
Dravid?s bat continued to be on fire after his masterly century, and he roared his way to an impressive 54 blasting eight fours.
It was his 37th half century in 88 Tests and he was unbeaten at the close and with him was captain Saurav Ganguly who had scored four runs.
Seamer Muhammad Sami for once helped Pakistan make a sensational start, snaring the wickets of Gautam Gambhir and danger man Virender Sehwag with telling blows in his first two overs to leave India at 23-2 inside four overs and at tea India stood at 36 for two with Tendulkar and Dravid together.
Sami took a leaf out of Waqar Younis?s book of yorkers to send Gambhir on his way off the first ball of his first over for one and then had Sehwag play one on to his stumps after getting only 15 runs.
Sehwag, whose 173 was one of the striking features of the first Test, gave seamer Muhammad Khalil a typically ruthless treatment dispatching the hapless bowler for three boundaries in his opening over that produced 14 runs.
The Lahore-born Khalil, playing in only his second Test, got hammered for 32 runs in his six overs while Sami picked up the two that he did in the 10 that he bowled.
Pakistan?s progress after they had begun the day at 273 for two, was hampered because of the loss of three wickets before lunch including that of overnight century-maker Youhana, and Inzamam but Younis continued to look as dangerous as he was on the second day.
Batting on 145 at lunch along with Razzaq who was 2 not out, the Indian bowlers could do little to unnerve him as Pakistan were able to add 81 runs by the break when they were 354 for five.
Success came early for India, with a leg before decision of Youhana, the batsman not offering a shot to an incoming delivery from Balaji, just 17 minutes into the day. The former vice captain could add only three runs to his elegant innings of Thursday, falling for 104.
Much depended on Inzamam, who made substantial contributions in the drawn first Test at Mohali. He added 50 runs with Younis for the fourth wicket but a thick edge to wicket-keeper Dinesh Karthik off Pathan brought the demise of his innings at 30.
Later, a brilliant throw from the long on boundary by Sachin Tendulkar saw Asim Kamal short of his crease as he went for an unnecessary third run in the 91st over.
However, Pakistan?s problems were compounded further after tea with the dismissal of Younis for 147 just when he seemed headed to surpass his previous Test best of 153 as he played Anil Kumble into the hands of second slip VVS Laxman with the visitors past 350.
There was still hope with Abdul Razzaq and Kamran Akmal, whose record 184-run seventh wicket stand last week had saved the Mohali match for Pakistan, at the crease.
That could not be repeated though and the wicket-keeper, who scored 109 in that game, went for a duck this time. How fortunes change.
A victim of off spinner Harbhajan, Kamran was taken by Tendulkar at mid-on while Razzaq, who managed only 17, followed soon, Dravid obliging Kumble with a fine catch in the slips which left Pakistan at 378 for eight.
It was then only a matter of time and the Indians cleaned up the tail of Sami and Khalil 50 minutes before tea as the last six wickets fell for only 62 runs.
There was success for the Indian spinners who had toiled on the second day, Kumble snaring 3-98 and Harbhajan claiming 2-94.
A wicket each for the day was picked up by Pathan and Balaji , both returning innings figures of 2-90 and 2-81.
Scoreboard
INDIA (1st Innings) 407 (R. Dravid 110, V. Sehwag 81, S.R. Tendulkar 52).
PAKISTAN (1st Innings, overnight 273-2):
Taufiq Umar c Harbhajan b Balaji 18
Shahid Afridi c Tendulkar b Pathan 29
Younis Khan c Laxman b Kumble 147
Yousuf Youhana lbw b Balaji 104
Inzamamul Haq c Karthik b Pathan 30
Asim Kamal run out 6
Abdul Razzaq c Dravid b Kumble 17
Kamran Akmal c Tendulkar b Harbhajan 0
Mohammad Sami c Ganguly b Harbhajan 7
Mohammad Khalil c Sehwag b Kumble 4
Danish Kaneria not out 3
EXTRAS (B-5, LB-13, W-2, NB-8) 28
TOTAL (all out, 113.1 overs) 393
FALL OF WKTS: 1-35, 2-70, 3-281, 4-331, 5-347, 6-361, 7-362, 8-378, 9-378.
BOWLING: Irfan Pathan 23-6-90-2(2w); Balaji 21-1-81-2 (3nb); Kumble 37.1-11-98-3 (4nb); Ganguly 2-0-12-0 (1nb); Harbhajan 30-5-94-2.
INDIA (2nd Innings):
V. Sehwag b Sami 15
G. Gambhir b Sami 1
R. Dravid not out 54
S.R. Tendulkar c Kamran b Razzaq 52
S.C. Ganguly not out 4
EXTRAS (LB-4, NB-3) 7
TOTAL (for three wkts, 33.3 overs) 133
FALL OF WKTS: 1-14, 2-23, 3-121.
BOWLING (to-date): Mohammad Khalil 6-0-32-0; Mohammad Sami 10-2-45-2 (2nb); Danish Kaneria 9-4-21-0; Shahid Afridi 3-0-12-0; Abdul Razzaq 5.3-2-19-1 (1nb).
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