Breaking/Brief news
January 30, 2006
Karachi Test, Stumps, Day 2
I am watching the highlights from today's play as I type this, and I'm quite pissed off to tell you the truth, we should have had a lead of 60-50 runs at least, had we not dropped all those catches. I thought our fielding had improved some what under Bobby, but no, we just have to show every once in a while that we're a Pakistani side! GRRRR...
Even though I still wanted to kill Imran Farhat (with my imaginary gun of course) for getting out playing the pull shot (for the umpteenth time in his career), that opening partnership of his, with Butt, really did set a good platform was us. Yousuf and Younus were batting without much discomfort towards the end and their partnership (currently at 50 odd) is going to be absolutely crucial in this innings now, given we've got the inexperienced Faisal Iqbal and the unpredictable Shahid Afridi coming in next.
The wicket, even though it's getting better and better for batting as time passes, as Chapel said in an interview I saw in the news, is one you're never well and truly 'in' on, one wicket can bring two, and two can bring three. We're still only leading by 180 odd, so there's work do be done ahead tomorrow. We must look to bat the entire day ideally, and get as many as we can. This match has so much time we can afford to do that.
A quick word on our bowling, well done Razzaq, nice way to silence the critics, he bowled well for his three wickets, and to go with his runs, no one should really question his inclusion in the side now, I know it was harsh on Rana, but look, he can only do what he's asked to do, and he's done that job, 45 crucial runs and 3 wickets. Asif though was the pick of the lot, and you've got to congratulate him for persevering with what he does best: bowl all day long in the corridor of uncertainty. But I have to admit, the best thing about his 4-for is that it's going to keep Sami out of the team for while at least! Hurray!
We're still in a strong position over all, but not one where India cannot come back from. Tomorrow we must aim to achieve this.
Even though I still wanted to kill Imran Farhat (with my imaginary gun of course) for getting out playing the pull shot (for the umpteenth time in his career), that opening partnership of his, with Butt, really did set a good platform was us. Yousuf and Younus were batting without much discomfort towards the end and their partnership (currently at 50 odd) is going to be absolutely crucial in this innings now, given we've got the inexperienced Faisal Iqbal and the unpredictable Shahid Afridi coming in next.
The wicket, even though it's getting better and better for batting as time passes, as Chapel said in an interview I saw in the news, is one you're never well and truly 'in' on, one wicket can bring two, and two can bring three. We're still only leading by 180 odd, so there's work do be done ahead tomorrow. We must look to bat the entire day ideally, and get as many as we can. This match has so much time we can afford to do that.
A quick word on our bowling, well done Razzaq, nice way to silence the critics, he bowled well for his three wickets, and to go with his runs, no one should really question his inclusion in the side now, I know it was harsh on Rana, but look, he can only do what he's asked to do, and he's done that job, 45 crucial runs and 3 wickets. Asif though was the pick of the lot, and you've got to congratulate him for persevering with what he does best: bowl all day long in the corridor of uncertainty. But I have to admit, the best thing about his 4-for is that it's going to keep Sami out of the team for while at least! Hurray!
We're still in a strong position over all, but not one where India cannot come back from. Tomorrow we must aim to achieve this.
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