Pakistan recover from early shock
Friday, 23 November 2007
DELHI, Nov 22 (BBC): India were held up by a rearguard action from Pakistan's Misbah-ul-Haq after taking control on the opening afternoon of the first Test in Delhi.
After Pakistan had won the toss and batted, paceman Zaheer Khan took 2-36 and skipper Anil Kumble claimed 3-38.
India had their arch rivals reeling at 142-8 at the tea interval.
But Misbah (71 not out) and Mohammad Sami (20 not out) then added an unbeaten 68 as Pakistan reached 210-8 before bad light curtailed play.
India went into the series knowing they will move up to third place in the ICC Test rankings if they win the series 2-0 - and will overtake second-placed England if they win all three Tests.
Pakistan handed a Test debut to left-arm seamer Sohail Tanvir after paceman Umar Gul was ruled out with a back injury, while India recalled spinner Harbhajan Singh after a year out of the Test side.
The visitors have struggled to find a consistent opening partnership in recent months, and Salman Butt had made just one before he was bowled by an inswinger from left-armer Zaheer.
Younus Khan followed Butt back to the pavilion when he was caught at fine leg by Munaf Patel as Zaheer claimed his second wicket, recording impressive figures of 2-25 from his first eight overs.
Pakistan were then in trouble at 59-3 when Butt's opening partner Yasir Hameed became Kumble's first victim as India captain.
After Pakistan had won the toss and batted, paceman Zaheer Khan took 2-36 and skipper Anil Kumble claimed 3-38.
India had their arch rivals reeling at 142-8 at the tea interval.
But Misbah (71 not out) and Mohammad Sami (20 not out) then added an unbeaten 68 as Pakistan reached 210-8 before bad light curtailed play.
India went into the series knowing they will move up to third place in the ICC Test rankings if they win the series 2-0 - and will overtake second-placed England if they win all three Tests.
Pakistan handed a Test debut to left-arm seamer Sohail Tanvir after paceman Umar Gul was ruled out with a back injury, while India recalled spinner Harbhajan Singh after a year out of the Test side.
The visitors have struggled to find a consistent opening partnership in recent months, and Salman Butt had made just one before he was bowled by an inswinger from left-armer Zaheer.
Younus Khan followed Butt back to the pavilion when he was caught at fine leg by Munaf Patel as Zaheer claimed his second wicket, recording impressive figures of 2-25 from his first eight overs.
Pakistan were then in trouble at 59-3 when Butt's opening partner Yasir Hameed became Kumble's first victim as India captain.