After the completion of the first two days, Pakistan if not clearly ahead, do indeed have an advantage, which they must press home.
The selection from Pakistan's end became an area of controversy to start, as Imran Farhat was left out again, and Mohammad Sami was dropped for Mohammad Asif. While the Sami for Asif decision was perhaps pending for a while, what raised more eyebrows was the decision to bring in Abdul Razzaq for Rana Naved. While much has been made over the lack of success for Abdul Razzaq with the ball
over the past while, the reasons for sitting out Naved were also not clear. Further, Pakistan went into the match with essentially two strike bowlers, Shoaib Akhtar and Danish Kaneria.
By winning the toss, Pakistan was able to delay further scrutiny of their bowling attack. They had a solid 49 run start from Shoaib Malik and Salman Butt, but were in a bit of trouble at 65 for 2. Younis Khan and Mohammad Yousuf then settled in and really took it to the Indian bowlers and took the score to 207, before Younis Khan was dismissed by perhaps the best catch of the series. Yousuf followed a few overs later, and then the Inzamam-Afridi train hit. By the end of day 1, Pakistan was at 379-4, and Afridi was only just beginning to unleash himself. The next morning, Inzamam retired hurt with a bad back, and it was not until another 90 runs, at 467 did the next wicket fall, when Afridi fell. Kamran Akmal and Razzaq followed, leaving Pakistan at 509-7. Inzamam and Shoaib Akhtar then took the score to 567, before Inzamam was dismissed, and Shoaib Akhtar was unlucky to be dismissed for 47, just short of his first test 50. Pakistan were all out for 588, a total they would be satisfied with.
India were at 110 for 1 at the end of the day, with danger man Sehwag dismissed for 31. The bowling appeared to be disciplined from the Pakistani side, and now the fielders must hold on to catches if Pakistan is to have a chance of a victory here.
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