By Qaiser Mohammad Ali, IANS
New Delhi : Sachin Tendulkar scored an unbeaten half-century as India registered a six-wicket win on the fifth and final day of the first Test against Pakistan here Monday and took a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.
Along with Tendulkar (56, 109 balls, 168 minutes, 9x4s), who hit the winning boundary off fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar, V.V.S. Laxman (6 not out, 13 balls, 18 minutes, 1×4) was at the crease when the victory was sealed at the Ferozeshah Kotla Stadium.
Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik had won the toss and scored 231 in their first innings. India replied with 276 — a lead of 45. Pakistan, in their second innings, made 247 and India scored the 203 necessary for the loss of four wickets.
India’s last Test win against Pakistan had come in March 2005, when they won the second match to take a 1-0 lead in the three-Test series, which was eventually drawn 1-1.
Pakistan have not lost a Test series in India for 28 years. Their previous defeated was in 1979 when Asif Iqbal was the captain.
Tendulkar looked in ominous form from the start of the day as he middled the ball confidently. Continuing his previous day’s form, he pulled Akhtar’s first ball for a boundary. In the next over he played an almost identical shot for as many runs off Mohammed Sami.
But Ganguly, at the other end, succumbed to his overnight score of 48 (64 balls, 8x4s) as he hooked Akhtar but top edged the ball. Sohail Tanveer at long leg took an easy catch.
Both Akhtar and Sami relied heavily on bouncers and Tendulkar pulled the short balls most of the times.
V.V.S. Laxman, who preferred to leave the short-pitched deliveries alone, also struck a boundary off Sami.
Tendulkar, looking aggressive, then reached his career’s 46th half-century off a powerful cover drive off leg-spinner Danish Kaneria.
The maestro sealed the win with another stinging four, a square cut off Akhtar, which gave India a 1-0 lead in the series.
Scoreboard
Day Five, First Test, India vs. Pakistan, Ferozeshah Kotla Stadium, Delhi
Pakistan (1st innings): 231
India (1st innings): 276
Pakistan (2nd innings): 247
India (2nd innings, overnight 171/3):
Dinesh Karthik c Akmal b Akhtar 1
Wasim Jaffer c Butt b Akhtar 53
Rahul Dravid b Akhtar 34
Sachin Tendulkar not out 56
Sourav Ganguly c Tanveer b Akhtar 48
V.V.S. Laxman not out 6
Extras: (bye 1, leg byes 3, no ball 1)
Total: (for four wickets in 61.1 overs) 203
Fall of wickets: 1-2 (Karthik, 0.6 overs), 2-84 (Jaffer, 27.3), 3-93 (Dravid, 33.2), 4-181 (Ganguly, 57.1)
Bowling:
Shoaib Akhtar 18.1 4 58 4 (1nb)
Sohail Tanvir 12 4 26 0
Danish Kaneria 16 2 50 0
Mohammad Sami 15 1 65 0
Result: India won by six wickets to take 1-0 lead in series
Umpires: Simon Taufel (Australia) and Billy Doctrove (West Indies)
Third umpire: Suresh Shastri (India)
Fourth umpire: Harnarain Singh Sekhon (India)
Match referee: Ranjan Madugalle (Sri Lanka)