da apostaganha： Kamran Akmal and Misbah-ul-Haq scored contrasting centuries but allowed Pakistan to close in on the follow-on mark that at one stage looked a distinct possibility
Anand Vasu02-Dec-2007
Kamran Akmal and Misbah-ul-Haq, with their centuries, breathed life not only in the match, but also the series © AFP
Pakistan needed runs from someone. Kamran Akmal and Misbah-ul-Haq proved to bethe most desperate of the Pakistani batsmen and scored contrasting, yet equallyvaluable, centuries that forced India to work hard for gains. And, as is so often thecase, luck went with the bravest when it was most needed. India fell into an oldhabit of making mistakes just when they had a chance to hammer home the advantage.With the follow-on now 59 runs away, which Anil Kumble might be reluctant to enforce with such a slim lead even should the option be available, Pakistan might just havedone enough to reach safety.But it was not always the case. Pakistan’s heavy dependence on the two Ys, Mohammad Yousufand Younis Khan, coupled with their combined failure would have given India heart early inthe day. But there’s little point dwelling on 150 for 5, for that’s a situation thatcame up not through spectacular bowling or a dodgy pitch, but merely by someextravagantly generous batting. What breathed life into this match, and thereby theseries, was the passage of play that followed the fall of the fifth wicket.Misbah and Akmal are at very different stages in their careers; one issteadily making a name for himself after being made to wait long for a chance, while the other has found his reputation being steadily eroded bysome disappointing wicketkeeping. In different ways, but with the same intensity andhunger, the two built a partnership that made all the difference.It’s easy to understand the pressure Akmal is under – his keeping has come in forcriticism and ridicule in recent times with regular dropped catches – but it’sdifficult to understand just what he’s thinking when he has a bat in his hand. Asidefrom being a compulsive hooker, Akmal seems only one shot away from self-destructingat any point, being insistent on opening the face of the bat and running the ballthrough the off side. The luck that favoured his bravery – a dozing MunafPatel dropped a top-edged hook at fine-leg – finally ran out. On 119, his fourth centuryagainst India, and fifth overall, Akmal drove expansively at Harbhajan Singh and lost hisoff-stump, with the follow-on yet to be averted. Misbah and Akmal are at very different stages in their careers; one issteadily making a name for himself after being made to wait long for a chance, while the other has found his reputation being steadily eroded bysome disappointing wicketkeeping Twice in the recent past, in his fledgling career, Misbah has taken Pakistan to the verge andthen departed. The first was the famous scoop in the final of the ICC World Twenty20.Following that, in the first Test of this series, going well on 82 and taking Pakistantowards respectability, he ran himself out comically, leaping in the air to avoidthe incoming throw. Now, he has a third chance to seal the deal. On 108, with thetail for company, Misbah needs to coax 59 more runs and see that the follow-on mark ispassed.For Pakistan, it was not merely a question of occupying the crease, for there wasenough time left in the game for India’s bowlers to do their thing, if the follow-onwas enforced. To avoid the follow-on, Pakistan needed runs, 417 of them on theboard, and India were aware of just how difficult it was going to be to set theirplans in motion. “We understand that the Pakistan total in the first innings mightbe a big one. That’s why we made 616 and made the follow-on target suitably large,”Sourav Ganguly had said at the end of the second day. “But things can change veryquickly on the fourth and fifth days and we have to bowl well and then make thingsdifficult for them in the second innings.”Now that the follow-on has virtually been taken out of the equation – althoughit should not be ruled out altogether for India’s bowlers have been in operationa day and a bit so far – the complexion of the match changes. It is now Indiawho have to make all the moves if they want to force a result; finishing offthis innings quickly, then setting a target, and finally having another go at Pakistan. That’s daunting just to think about, leave alone going out there and doing it on a wicket that’sstill holding together.