Let me begin with appluading the Pakistan team for putting up a spirited challange so far in the 2nd test @ Kolkata in the ongoing India v/s Pak Test Series in India.
Everyone had predicted that the India would roll-over the Pakistan in this test match. And with Pakistan not fielding its top 11 players and India chugging along nicely to a 600 plus score, the writing was very much clear on the wall. Misbah-ul-Haq, who is having a dream season since Twenty20 WC seem to have different ideas. He found an able partner in the Kamran Akmal who on the other hand is having his worst season behind the stumps. If Kamran had to wipe out all those bad memories, the only option was in coming good in front of the stumps and he answered to the prayers of the Pakistani fans in a fantastic manner.
Though this rear-guard action cannot be compared to the epic Laxman-Dravid partnership at the same ground against Australi (2001), it definetly will go down in the books of cricket as one of the finest 'survival act'. At the sametime we need to give credit to M Sammi who helped Pakistan to avoid a follow-on and probably escape with heads held high in this test match.
A Indian win or draw would be a predicted result in all the corners, but would not be surprised if Pakistan make India sweat chasing down the target.. Just a knock on the memories....it was here in 1998-99 series that Pakistan won a test match after being reduced to 26 for 6. No one knows till the 'last ball' of the match is bowled...
A very interesting finish is definetly in offerring for the last day...
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