Gambhir, Tendulkar clinch draw for India
Gautam Gambhir’s responsible century followed up by Sachin Tendulkar’s long vigil ensured that Sri Lanka did not get what could have been their first Test victory on Indian soil.
Going into Day 5 with 8 wickets in hand, India got two big partnerships to ease through a draw. Gautam Gambhir who resumed this morning at an overnight score of 74 saw India through the first 45 minutes of play along with night watchman Amit Mishra. It was the first 45 minutes of play that did India in during the first day’s play and the second day’s play when they had lost four wickets each.
Mishra, the night watchman hung in pretty well to the crease before getting out to a brilliant diving catch at leg gully by Dilshan. After his exit, Sachin Tendulkar joined Gautam Gambhir and the pair took India safely to lunch and in the process reducing the deficit to 78. Gambhir worked his way to a 7th test century as well.
Early in the post lunch session, Gautam Gambhir (114 from 230 balls with 13 fours) fell to an ambitious lofted shot off Rangana Herath to gives hopes of a Sri Lankan victory. However, the new man in VVS Laxman found no trouble at all in handling the Sri Lankan spinners and pacers to put up a solid partnership with Tendulkar. The two right handers saw their team through to Tea with still six wickets in hand and India got into a slender lead of 7 runs.
Tendulkar and Laxman batted on and on in the final session to force a draw. Sri Lanka too had given it up as they no longer had any close in fielders. Sachin Tendulkar (100* from 211 balls with 11 fours) helped himself to a 43rd Test hundred and Laxman (51* from 160 balls with 5 fours) got his 40th fifty before the match ended. India finished at an impressive fourth innings total of 412 for 4. Sri Lanka could take only the two wickets in the entire day’s play! Former Sri Lankan Captain Mahela Jayawardene was named as the Man of the Match for his knock of 275.
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Gambhir, Tendulkar clinch draw for India was first posted on November 20, 2009 at 7:57 pm.
McIntosh flays Pakistani bowling on final day
Tim McIntosh stroked his way to an unbeaten 131 from196 balls with 16 fours on the final day of Pakistan’s tour match at Queensland. The New Zealand Invitation XI ended the match at a solid 231 for 2 in their second innings before the match became a draw. Daniel Flynn also found some useful form scoring 56.
Brief Scores : New Zealand Invitation XI 234 and 231/2 (McIntosh 131* Flynn 56, Abdur Rauf 1/11 Fawad Alam 1/46) drew with Pakistanis 286
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McIntosh flays Pakistani bowling on final day was first posted on November 20, 2009 at 7:57 pm.
Abdur Rauf shines for Pak in tour opener
Pakistan bowlers had an impressive outing in the New Zealand tour opener at Queenstown. The New Zealand Invitation XI led by Grant Elliott was bowled out for 234 with seamer Abdur Rauf taking an impressive 4 for 43 in 14.1 overs. Mohammad Asif, Yasir Arafat and leggie Danish Kaneria picked up a couple of wickets each.
The Pakistanis had a bad start though with the bat losing Khurram Manzoor cheaply. They finished Day 1 of the 3-day match at 14 for 1 in 9 overs of batting. Imran Farhat on 10 and Fawad Alam on 0 are at the crease for the tourists. This match could be a good eposure for young Umar Akmal who is lining up for a Test Match Debut at Dunedin.
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Abdur Rauf shines for Pak in tour opener was first posted on November 18, 2009 at 8:08 pm.
