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Pakistan’s triumph in Kolkata
Pakistan and India squared off at Eden Gardens, Kolkata, to celebrate 75 years of service of the Board of Cricket Control in India (BCCI).
The match between the two arch-rivals was meant to be part of the celebrations. But celebration was the last thing on the mind of any Indian as their team succumbed to a six-wicket defeat at the hands of Pakistan at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on November 13. That was for the fourth consecutive time the Indians were beaten by their arch-rivals.
In front of a full capacity crowd, Sourav Ganguly decided to bat first after calling correctly for the toss. The wicket seemed batsman-friendly but Ganguly should have kept the dew factor in mind. The Indian openers looked as confident as ever when they jogged out to face the Pakistani bowling. Sachin Tendulkar was removed early thanks to Younis Khan. Virender Sehwag, VVS Laxman and
Rahul Dravid all looked good and got great starts too but failed to bat through. Local boy, Sourav Ganguly struck some form only to top-edge a Shoaib Akhtar bouncer, which was very well caught by Kamran Akmal.
The only Indian batsman to dominate the bowling was the mercurial Yuvraj Singh. The stylish left-handed batsman made batting look easy with the exquisite strokes he hit with amazing comfort. Yuvraj scored 78 runs that included 10 fours and two big hits.
Pakistan, chasing a target of 293, was badly in need of a good start. Younis Khan was sent in to open the innings with the inexperienced but gutsy left-hander, Salman Butt. After losing Younis Khan early in the innings, Shoaib Malik (a youngster who is improving with every match) and Salman Butt rescued Pakistan to give the team a good start. Malik was extremely unfortunate to have got out as he got the top-edge of his willow while trying to nudge a low ball towards square-leg off Sehwag. Soon after Malik’s departure Salman Butt had to return to the pavilion retired-hurt due to cramps. Yousuf Youhana never looked comfortable and edged Ashish Nehra to wicket-keeper Rahul Dravid.
Salman Butt then returned to join his skipper in the chase as the Indians were having a horrid time with the dew taking control of the proceedings. Butt scored his maiden hundred in the illustrious company of his skipper Inzamam-ul-Haq, who toyed with the Indian bowling attack while scoring his 73rd fifty.
Pakistan won the match with an over to spare. Unfortunately, there wasn’t any support from the Indian crowd for the Pakistani players. Even a single taken by an Indian batsman was cheered but a well played century by Salman Butt, which should have been given a standing ovation, simply silenced the crowd.
All in all, Pakistan is ahead of India in all departments of the game. Even the Indian skipper Sourav Ganguly accepted the fact that the Pakistanis are playing better cricket than the Indians as a result of which they have been beaten four times in a row.
Man of the Match
Young left-hander Salman Butt was rightly adjudicated Man-of-the-match. This youngster from Lahore scored his maiden ODI century against the arch-rivals India, countering pain and discomfort. Young Salman recently struck form in the Quaid-i-Azam Trophy when he scored a classy double century against Karachi Whites at the Qaddafi Stadium, Lahore. Salman Butt reflects the legendary Saeed Anwar, with his fluent drives through the off-side. The national selectors now need not to shuffle him in the batting order but find a good opening partner for him.
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