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IND win 3 - 0 IND gains 22 points; PAK loses 22 points
Draw 1.5 - 1.5 PAK gains 1 points; IND loses 1 points
PAK win 3 - 0 PAK gains 23 points; IND loses 23 points
Lahore
13 - 17 January 2006
Pakistan won the toss and elected to bat first. India made an early breakthrough, running out Salman Butt (6) in the third over at 1 for 12. However, that was India's only success for the morning as Pakistan powered to an early advantage of 1 for 110 at lunch. India again managed only one wicket during the afternoon session, with Shoaib Malik (59) caught at 2 for 136 shortly before drinks. Pakistan then continued building a substantial platform, doubling their score to be 2 for 220 at tea. India struggled through the evening session, while Younis Khan posted his tenth Test century. By stumps, Pakistan had a significant advantage in the match, with the score 2 for 326, and India needing to have an electric first session on day two to get back into contention.
Pakistan continued piling on the runs on the second morning. Mohammad Yousuf posted his 15th Test century early in the session before eventually being stumped for 173 runs at 3 for 455. Inzamam-ul-Haq (1) failed to cash in when he was trapped in front two overs later. Finally, just before lunch, Younis Khan (199) was run out by a direct hit from Harbhajan Singh at 5 for 477. At lunch, Pakistan was comfortably placed at 5 for 485. India suffered a Shahid Afridi blitz during the hour after lunch when he posted his fourth Test century in 78 balls before being caught two balls later for 103 runs at 6 for 647. Kamran Akmal (102*) posted his third Test century just after Naved-ul-Hasan (9) was caught and Pakistan declared at 7 for 668 off 143.3 overs (4.7 runs per over). Agarkar and Kumble each took two wickets for India. India, hoping that the pitch remained batsman friendly, began their reply and was no wicket for 22 from five overs at tea. Bad light limited the evening session to just eight overs and at stumps, India was no wicket for 65, still 415 runs short of the follow on target.
Rain delayed play on the third morning. When play eventually got underway, India took the total to no wicket for 132 runs from 25 overs. However, the gloom had the umpires reaching for the light meters and the batsmen were happy to return to the dressing rooms for an early lunch. Bad light again delayed play when the scheduled lunch break had finished. The umpires tentatively got play underway at 1.15 PM and Pakistan managed a further three overs before the light meters came out again and the players left the field with the score no wicket for 145. Unfortunatley, with such an imposing first innings and a desperate need for overs to be bowled to have any chance of a result in the match, no further play was allowed that day.
Bad light again delayed play on the fourth morning for over an hour. When play eventuall began, they were off the field again eleven balls later, however, Sehwag had posted his eleventh Test century. Finally, after an early lunch, play resumed in earnest and India continued to pile on the runs. By tea, Dravid had posted his 21st Test century while Sehwag had made the second fastest double century (182 balls faced) in history with the score no wicket for 358, but still 122 runs short of the follow on target. Pakistan continued to bowl on a concrete slab of a pitch and India continued to slog their way at over five runs per over to be no wicket for 403 at stumps, only 77 runs short of the follow on target.
New day, same story. Bad light, light rain, covers on and no play before lunch. With Sehwag 247 not out and Dravid 128 not out, the Indian openers were only ten runs short of passing the all time opening partnership record, set by Pankaj Roy and Vinoo Mankad in 1956. A mere 14 balls were eventually bowled and tragically, Sehwag was caught behind off the eleventh ball when the pair was just three runs short of equalling the record for the first wicket partnership. The umpires and players then fled back to the dressing rooms with the final Indian score 1 for 410 and Dravid not out on 128 runs when the draw was declared.
Second Test
Faisalabad
22 - 26 January 2006
Pakistan won the toss and elected to bat first. Pakistan made a competent start and added 49 runs before Shoaib Malik (19) was caught. India then caught Salman Butt (37) at 2 for 65 to take an early advantage. However, Pakistan then consolidated and at lunch, Pakistan was 2 for 137. India struggled through the afternoon session as Pakistan reclaimed the better position. It was not until the middle of the second hour that Younis Khan (83) was caught at 3 for 207. Mohammad Yousuf (65) was also caught nine runs later and India had pulled themselves back toward contention. At tea, Pakistan was slightly ahead at 4 for 248. India needed to keep the wickets tumbling during the evening session, but was unable to take any chances. By stumps, Pakistan was in a very good position at 4 for 379.
India has an indifferent second morning, with Inzamam-ul-Haq retiring injured on 79, but then suffering another Shahid Afridi blitz, with Afridi posting his fifth Test century before being caught for 156 off only 128 balls at 5 for 467. India managed another quick wicket, with Kamran Akmal (0) falling two overs later. Inzamam then returned, but just before lunch, India caught Abdul Razzaq (37) before Inzamam-ul-Haq posted his 25th Test century. At lunch, Pakistan was extremely well placed at 7 for 516. India managed to dismiss Inzamam (119) at 8 for 567 and then Shoaib Akhtar (47) and Danish Kaneria (0) were caught and Pakistan was all out for an impressive 588 runs. Harbhajan Singh was the best of the bowlers for India, with 4 for 89 off 25 overs. India then began their reply and was no wicket for 39 at tea. Pakistan struck on the third ball after tea, catching Sehwag (31) at 1 for 39. However, Pakistan was unable to gain any momentum and when bad light stopped play, India was 1 for 110, still 279 runs short of the follow on target.
Pakistan needed to take some quick wickets on the third morning in order to convert their first innings into a real advantage. Unfortunately, Pakistan was unable to do so as India batted through the session without losing a wicket to go to lunch at 1 for 227. However, it was a different story after lunch as the wicket of Laxman (90) at 2 for 236 led to a mini collapse of the middle order. Dravid then posted his 22nd Test century and was promptly run out for 103, Yuvraj Singh (4) was then caught behind and Tendulkar (14) suffered the same fate. In all, India lost 4 for 45 in ten overs. By tea, India was 5 for 338, still needing another 51 runs to pass the follow on target. India steadied after tea and managed pass the follow on target and bat through until bad light stopped play with the score 5 for 441, still 147 runs in arrears, while Dhoni had posted his maiden Test century.
Pakistan fought back on the fourth morning, needing to see India out quickly to have any hope of achieving a result other than another high scoring draw. Pakistan managed to dismiss Dhoni (148), Pathan (90) and Kumble (15) before India went to lunch at 8 for 559, only 29 runs in arrears. Pakistan dismissed Harbhajan Singh (38) and Rudpa Singh (6) after lunch, but not before India swept to a 15 run lead. India was all out for 603 runs, while Danish Kaneria was the best of the Pakistani bowlers with 3 for 165 off 54 overs. Pakistan then began their second inning and lost the wicket of Salman Butt (24) before going to tea at 1 for 65 with a lead of 50 runs. India failed to take a wicket during the evening session and when bad light stopped play, Pakistan was 1 for 152, with an overall lead of 137 runs.
On the final morning, only a sporting declaration or a significant Pakistani collapse could save the match from a draw. Neither eventuated as India managed only the wicket of Kamran Akmal (78) early in the session at 1 for 181. By lunch, Younis Khan had posted his eleventh Test century
with the score 2 for 266 and a lead of 251 runs. India was unable to take a wicket during the afternoon session and a declaration was equally not forthcoming. By tea, Mohammad Yousuf had posted his 17th Test century while Pakistan was 2 for 406 with a lead of 391 runs. India finally dismissed Mohammad Yousuf (126) at 3 for 423 after tea. Then, the wicket of Abdul Razzaq (32) at 4 for 488 led to a collapse with Shahid Afridi (1), Younis Khan (194), Mohammad Asif (0) and Danish Kaneria (0) all dismissed in the space of two runs. Pakistan was then all out for 490 runs as Inzamam and Shoaib Malik were absent injured. Zaheer Khan was the best of the bowlers with 4 for 61 off 19.4 overs. India then faced eight overs before play was called off with the score no wicket for 21 and a draw declared.
Third Test
Karachi
29 January - 2 February 2006
India won the toss and asked Pakistan to bat first. The decision paid immediate dividends as Irfan Pathan took a hat trick in the first over of the day. On the fourth ball, Salman Butt (0) was caught with Younis Khan (0) being trapped in front and then Mohammad Yousuf (0) clean bowled to see Pakistan in tatters with 3 down for no score. India then trapped Faisal Iqbal (5) in front at 4 for 13 before Pakistan managed to stabilise for a brief four overs before Shahid Afridi (10) was bowled at 5 for 37 and Imran Farhat (22) caught two runs later. Finally, Abdul Razzaq and Kamran Akmal managed to stick together and take a battered Pakistan to lunch at 6 for 101. The pair added another 53 runs after lunch before Abdul Razzaq (45) was bowled at 7 for 154. By tea, Pakistan had rebuilt their innings with Kamran Akmal (101*) having posted his fourth Test century while Shoaib Akhtar (31*) was holding up the other end and the score 7 for 218. India managed to wind up the innings in only eight overs after tea. Once Kamran Akmal (113) was caught, Mohammad Asif (0) and Shoaib Akhtar (45) were out in consecutive overs and Pakistan was all out for 245 runs. Pathan was the best of the bowlers with 5 for 61 off 17.1 overs, his seventh five-wicket haul in Tests. India then began their reply and discovered why Pakistan had trouble batting. Dravid (3) was caught at 1 for 9 and then Sehwag (5) followed at 2 for 14. After a brief period of rebuilding, Laxman (19) and Tendulkar (23) fell in the space of five balls for India to be 4 for 56. By stumps, India was 4 for 74, but in need of a good partnership the next morning to get back toward parity with Pakistan.
India gained some momentum on the second morning and took the score to 137 before Ganguly (34) was caught. Pakistan later dismissed Yuvraj Singh (45) and Dhoni (13) in consecutive overs just before India went to lunch in some difficulty at 7 for 169. India eked out the runs after lunch before Pakistan went on to dismiss Kumble (7), Pathan (40) and Zaheer Khan (21) to have India all out for 238 runs. Mohammad Asif was the best of the bowlers with 4 for 78. Pakistan, with a slender but unexpected first innings lead of seven runs, then began their second innings and was no wicket for 26 at tea. India managed to dismiss openers Salman Butt (53) and Imran Farhat (57) in the space of 13 runs to have Pakistan 2 for 122. However, Pakistan then consolidated and finished the day at 2 for 173, with a useful overall lead of 180 runs.
India needed to get some wicket taking momentum if they were to remain competitive on the third morning. Unfortunately for India, Pakistan batted through the entire session, adding 107 more runs to their lead to be 2 for 270 at lunch. India began the afternoon session in better fashion, dismissing Younis Khan (77) at 3 for 280 and then Mohammad Yousuf (97) at 4 for 318. However, the lead was becoming a concern and by tea, Pakistan was 4 for 370, with a lead of 377 runs. India caught Shahid Afridi (60) soon after tea, but Pakistan then batted through the rest of the session and after Faisal Iqbal posted his maiden Test century, Pakistan ended the day at 5 for 511. India, with an already daunting final innings target, would be hoping the pitch behaved as well for them.
On the fourth morning, India dismissed Faisal Iqbal (139), and Abdul Razzaq (90) before Pakistan declared at 7 for 599. Kumble was the best of the bowlers with 3 for 151 off 37.1 overs. India began their unlikely chase for the 607 runs needed for victory at the rate of a century per session, or the chance to bat through almost two days for a draw. India began poorly, losing openers Dravid (2) and Sehwag (4) in the first two overs to be 2 for 8. By lunch, India was 2 for 48. Pakistan struck quickly after lunch, with Mohammad Asif bowling both Laxman (21) and Tendulkar (26) to have India's innings in tatters at 4 for 74. By tea, India had rebuilt somewhat to be 4 for 177. Ganguly (37) fell first ball after tea and the innings then unravelled. Pakistan dismissed Dhoni (18), Pathan (4), Kumble (5), Zaheer Khan (10) and Yuvraj Singh (122) in the space of 57 runs to have India all out for 265 runs. Abdul Razzaq was the best of the bowlers with 4 for 88 off 18.4 overs as Pakistan claimed victory by 341 runs and the series.
