LAHORE, Oct 12: If it can happen to Don Bradman, it can happen to anyone. The stage was set for Inzamam-ul-Haq to make a glorious, record-breaking, farewell to international cricket on Friday when he walked to the crease on the last day of the Pakistan-South Africa second test.

He needed just three runs to break Javed Miandad’s Pakistan record of 8,832 test runs, and his team was shaping to make a tilt at the world-record fourth innings run chase.

But five minutes later he was on his way back to the pavilion, the record books were shut, and Pakistan reacted by going on the defensive and playing for a draw in a series loss to the tourists.

It may not have been as dramatic as Bradman’s duck in his final innings in 1948 that cost him a test average of 100, but ‘Inzi’ was every bit as disappointed.

“I wanted to play a memorable knock, but sadly that was not the case today,” Inzamam told reporters.

“I wanted to play aggressively and maybe I could have won the match for Pakistan.”

Inzamam’s last test innings lasted only two balls before Mark Boucher stumped the former Pakistan captain for three runs off left-arm spinner Paul Harris.

“It’s difficult for me to describe how I felt when I walked in, it was full of emotions,” Inzamam said of his brief stay at the wicket.

Harris beat the burly 37-year-old in flight and Inzamam completely misjudged the line of the ball.

“I’ve hit a number of deliveries like this one for sixes, but today in the battle of batsman and bowler, the bowler won,” he said.

Inzamam was given a memorable send-off at the end of the match. All the Pakistan players lined up in a guard of honour and Inzamam walked through their raised bats for the presentation ceremony.—AP