India to grassp the Delhi's Test required more 32 runs

India, chasing 203 to win the first Test against Pakistan, had scored 171 for three wickets in their second innings on the fourth day here Sunday, needing 32 more to win on the fifth and final day.

At the close of play, Sachin Tendulkar was batting on 32 (86 balls, 5x4s) and Sourav Ganguly was on 48 (61 balls, 8x4s). Both batted with assurance and authority and have so far added 78 for the fourth wicket.




















Earlier, India bowled out Pakistan for 247 in their second innings, with Salman Butt being the top scorer with 67 and Anil Kumble taking three wickets at his favourite Ferozeshah Kotla.

Pakistan, who made 231 in the first innings, ended up with a lead of 202. India had made 276 in their first innings.


















India's chase began inauspiciously as they lost Dinesh Karthik quickly for the second time in the match. He made nine in the first innings and one in the second and was caught behind both the times. Wasim Jaffer (53, 81 balls, 8x4s) and Rahul Dravid (34, 96 balls, 5x4s) did not let the early dismissal affect them as the duo contributed 82 for the second wicket.

But Jaffer and Dravid departed within nine runs of each other. Fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar took all three wickets. His exceptional second spell, during which he dismissed Jaffer and Dravid, read 7-2-16-2.

Tendulkar and Ganguly then took charge. Unmindful of the fading light, Ganguly square cut leg-spinner Danish Kaneria for two successive fours to the delight of the packed stadium. And in the next over from pacer Mohammed Sami, Tendulkar flicked and Ganguly drove to bring up two more boundaries and that sent the spectators into ecstasy.

















The day began with Pakistan at 212 for five. But Kamran Akmal, who was batting on 21 along with Misbah-ul-Haq (29) overnight, was out without any addition to his score.

Akmal, who is going through a poor run, tried to drive Zaheer Khan through the covers, but the angle of the delivery saw him slicing it to substitute Yuvraj Singh for straightforward catch at point. The sixth-wicket stand was broken after 52 runs.

Sohail Tanvir, the next batsman, who is left-hander did not last long as fell into the trap laid by Khan, mishooking into the hands of Harbhajan Singh at backward square leg.

Ganguly, in whom Kumble seemed to have a lot of faith, made it worse for Pakistan as he struck twice in three balls to dismiss Misbah-ul-Haq and Sami.

With first delivery with the second new ball, Ganguly got rid of the danger man Misbah-ul-Haq (45, 87 balls 2x4s, 2x6s). Misbah attempted his favourite lofted ondrive, but Dinesh Karthik ran backwards some ten metres from mid on to mid-wicket to take a brilliantly judged catch.

Misbah, despite not being well, played his role to perfection and emerged as the second highest scorer after Salman Butt's 67.

Off the next ball, Sami flicked a four off the military medium pacer, but Ganguly had his revenge the next delivery as the dogged batsman top-edged, going for massive drive, and was caught by Wasim Jaffer at mid-wicket.

Like in India's first innings, the last two wickets in the Pakistani innings fell to successive balls as Kaneria also was run out. Sachin Tendulkar's slightly off-target throw to wicketkeeper Mahendra Singh Dhoni who smartly broke the stumps with his back to them.