Friday, December 01, 2006

Pakistan win third test!

It took almost all day, and 50+ overs on the final day, but it was enough time for Pakistan to find the gumption to beat the WI in the third test by a stellar 199 runs.

It was looking like a dangerous morning, when Lara and Sarwan began authoritatively, and very little that the bowlers could do was troubling. Yet, in the one hour before lunch, things began to happen. Lara was caught off Umar Gul, Sarwan's foot was fractured by a Waqar Younis style yorker by Umar Gul, and 25 runs later Morton as well was walking off. Pakistan thought things were in hand at lunch, with Sarwan not coming back and the WI at 144 for 4. Yet, Chanderpaul and Bravo battled on from lunch to tea, and even though Bravo fell, the WI were at 226-5, the evening was dark and things couldn't have looked gloomier for Pakistan.

Yet, over tea, the sky lightened, the breeze picked up and Kaneria sent Chanderpaul and Powell back to the pavilion in the first over after tea. Ten more overs, the tail wagged and the WI were all out for 244. Kaneria finally came good, and Pakistan won their second straight series at home by a 2-0 margin.

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