The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : Weather dampens Pakistan's spirits

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Mar 06, 2005

Sport

Sport - Cricket

Weather dampens Pakistan's spirits

By Rakesh Rao

DHARAMSALA, MARCH 5. Left to the Pakistani cricketers, they would have preferred to be on their way to Mohali this afternoon instead of risking injuries on the soggy outfield of the Dharamsala Stadium. In the end, they were relieved to be done with their three-day practice match against Board President's XI on Saturday.

If bad light had ended the proceedings in the post-lunch session on Friday, rain and poor visibility combined to disappoint the spectators who got only 45 minutes of cricket on this day.

Only 11.4 overs were possible in the post-lunch session and the Board President's XI moved from its overnight 91 for one to 120 without further loss. Mohammad Kaif and Dheeraj Jadhav were on 49 when bad light forced the players to return to the pavilion before a downpour ruled out further play.

The last day's proceedings began precisely 24 hours after play was stopped on Friday. Heavy rains during the early hours of the day had left the outfield soggy. But the ground staff, armed with sponge sheets and sawdust, did a good job of making it playable in the afternoon.

A capacity crowd cheered Mohammad Kaif and Dhiraj Jadhav in anticipation of their confidence-building half centuries. Overnight on 30, the left-handed Jadhav raised the century-stand for the second wicket and caught up with Kaif at 49. For two overs, the noisy crowd waited for the batsmen to reach their half centuries. However, anti-climax came in the form of thick, dark clouds that prompted a premature end to the proceedings.

Crowd disappointed

Eventually, the crowd as well as the Pakistan cricketers got less out of this match than expected. If the crowd wanted three full days of cricket, the visitors needed serious match-practice before the first Test beginning at Mohali on Tuesday. However, inclement weather allowed only 101.3 overs of play in this drawn contest.

Pakistan fielded its virtual Test side, batted by choice but did not score much. Abdul Razzaq, Asim Kamal, Taufeeq Umar and Inzamam-ul-Haq were the ones who used the batting opportunity better than some of the other frontline batsmen.

Even the Pakistan bowlers were far from cheerful. They did not get to bowl long enough to find their rhythm. Leg-spinner Danish Kaneria, who bowled six overs today, certainly did not make any impression.

But then, it is unwise to think that Pakistan lacks practice ahead of the first Test. These days, most international teams play throughout the year and do not really need a `serious' workout before a Test. Following their tour to Australia, these Pakistan cricketers are reasonably well rested and definitely no strangers to Indian pitches.

With the northern part of the country experiencing moderate to heavy rainfall and the meteorological department predicting more rain in days to come, a delayed start to the first Test cannot be ruled out.

The scores:

Pakistan — 1st innings: 273.

Board President's XI — 1st innings: Dheeraj Jadhav (not out) 49, Satyajit Parab b Rana 11, Mohd. Kaif (not out) 49. Extras (lb-6, nb-5) 11. Total (for one wkt. in 34 overs) 120.

Fall of wicket: 1-17.

Pakistan bowling: Sami 11-2-37-0, Rana 8-4-17-1, Razzaq 6-0-36-0, Kaneria 9-1-24-0.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Sport