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| November 22, 2005 | Tuesday | Shawwal 19, 1426 |
Masterly Inzamam century puts Pakistan in command
FAISALABAD, Nov 21: Coach Bob Woolmer had said his side was intent on wrapping up the series against England in Faisalabad. On Monday, Pakistan took a step forward in that direction courtesy a record-equalling Inzamamul Haq century in the second Test.
As shadows lengthened at the Iqbal Stadium and play for the second day ended 17 overs early, the tourists had inched to 113-3 still 349 behind Pakistan’s first innings 462.
It was a difficult situation, one that England had surely not hoped to be in. They required another 149 runs to avoid follow-on.
Seamer Rana Navedul Hasan struck two vital blows when England began their innings shortly after lunch removing opener Andrew Strauss and captain Michael Vaughan to dent the rivals’ ambitions.
To make matters worse fast bowler Mohammad Sami netted the prized scalp of Marcus Trescothick. At the close Ian Bell was unbeaten on 36 along with Kevin Pietersen who was 4 not out.
But it was Inzamam’s masterly innings of 109 that was the talk of the day as was his controversial dismissal. After getting his 23rd Test century that put him at par with Javed Miandad he drove Steve Harmison straight back.
A quick return from the towering paceman perhaps caught him a whisker out of his crease as he took evasive action to avoid being hit from the throw.
The matter was referred to TV umpire Nadeem Ghauri who surprisingly gave the batsman no benefit of doubt. It was a poor decision coming on the heels of Mohammad Yousuf’s contentious verdict on Sunday.
Naved, coming in for Shabbir Ahmed after sitting out the Multan Test, forced Strauss to play on to his stumps with only 33 runs on board. Just a blink and Vaughan too was trudging back, a perfect yorker bringing about his demise. He had only two runs to show.
Trescothick added 68 runs for the third wicket and fell just as he approached his half century, an inside edge going through to wicket-keeper Kamran Akmal for 48.
When Pakistan began the day at 300-4, there was no let-up for the English bowlers who continued to get the kind of treatment they got on Sunday. Inzamam and Afridi returned with their guns blazing.
It certainly wasn’t what the tourists had wanted, Hoggard more so. The Durham seamer was dispatched for two forceful sixes and a four off successive deliveries in his third over off which came 21 runs.
Those big hits could have been the handiwork of only Afridi who lofted the bowler twice over long on in what were identical sixes. He then sent one down to the boundary but the next ball brought about his fall, Trescothick taking a low catch in the slips.
Afridi’s electrifying 85-ball 92 had half a dozen sixes and as many fours. His scalp gave England something to cheer about but with Inzamam still there, danger continued to lurk.
Inzamam, 80 overnight, added 145 runs with Afridi for the fifth wicket in a partnership that clearly upset England’s plans of making a good start to the Test which they are bidding to win to level the series.
It was shortly afterwards that the captain’s century was up as he picked up three runs off Hoggard with a strike to mid-on. The burly captain got to that mark after remaining stuck on 99 during which he faced 12 balls. In his innings Inzamam struck 13 fours and faced 200 balls.
Having snared the two wickets that mattered, England got another two before lunch when Pakistan were 446-8. Kamran Akmal was closing in on his half century with 41 and Shoaib Akhtar not out 0.
Naved scored a rapid 25 off 22 balls before Harmison accounted for his wicket though not before he had smashed three fours and six. Sami was caught and bowled by Giles for 18.
There was little else the tailenders could do and the home team were bowled 1.5 overs after lunch, Giles and Harmison drawing the curtains on the innings.
Kamran was taken first ball after the break by wicket-keeper Geraint Jones off Giles. Shoaib followed attempting to dispatch a third six to Harmison only to be taken by Flintoff in the deep.
Three of the wickets were taken by Harmison with two each going to Hoggard and Giles.
The Englishmen wore black armbands to pay respect to their loyal fan Robert Padmore who died of a heart attack in Faisalabad on Sunday night.
| S C O R E B O A R D | |
| PAKISTAN (1st Innings, overnight 300-4): | |
| Shoaib Malik c Flintoff b Hoggard | 27 |
| Salman Butt c Jones b Harmison | 26 |
| Younis Khan c Pietersen b Flintoff | 7 |
| Mohammad Yousuf c and b Bell | 78 |
| Inzamamul Haq run out | 109 |
| Shahid Afridi c Trescothick b Hoggard | 92 |
| Kamran Akmal c Jones b Giles | 41 |
| Rana Navedul Hasan b Harmison | 25 |
| Mohammad Sami c and b Giles | 18 |
| Shoaib Akhtar c Flintoff b Harmison | 12 |
| Danish Kaneria not out | 4 |
| EXTRAS (B-5, LB-3, NB-15) | 23 |
| TOTAL (all out, 115.4 overs) | 462 |
| FALL OF WKTS: 1-53, 2-63, 3-73, 4-201, 5-346, 6-369, 7-403, 8-431, 9-446. | |
| BOWLING: Hoggard 22-0-115-2 (12nb); Flintoff 29-2-76-1 (3nb); Giles 20-1-85-2; Harmison 24.4-5-85-3; Udal 13-1-60-0; Bell 7-1-33-1. | |
| ENGLAND (1st Innings): | |
| M.E. Trescothick c Kamran b Sami | 48 |
| A.J. Strauss b Rana Naved | 12 |
| M.P. Vaughan b Rana Naved | 2 |
| I.R. Bell not out | 36 |
| K.P. Pietersen not out | 4 |
| EXTRAS (W-1, NB-10) | 11 |
| TOTAL (for three wkts, 36 overs) | 113 |
| FALL OF WKTS: 1-33, 2-39, 3-107. | |
| TO BAT: A. Flintoff, G.O. Jones, A.F. Giles, S.D. Udal, M.J. Hoggard, S.J. Harmison. | |
| BOWLING (to-date): Shoaib Akhtar 8-1-28-0 (1nb, 1w); Rana Navedul Hasan 10-2-23-2 (5nb); Mohammad Sami 8-3-22-1; Shahid Afridi 3-0-10-0 (2nb); Danish Kaneria 7-0-30-0 (2nb). | |
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