India vs Pakistan 1952 – 1953 (Part Three)

Jan 12, 2022

India vs Pakistan 1952 – 1953 (Part Three) Image

With India leading by two matches to one, the two sides headed to Madras (now Chennai) for the fourth Test match.

It proved to be a frustrating experience for players and fans alike, with the last two days of the match lost to rain. That was a pity because it was shaping up to be a fascinating encounter before the weather intervened.

Pakistan won the toss and batted, with captain Abdul Hafeez Kardar making 79. His brother-in-law Zulfiqar Ahmed got an unbeaten 63, adding 104 for the last wicket with Amir Alam (47). That helped them compile 344.

India were struggling in their reply at 175/6, despite 62 from Polly Umrigar and 42 from Madhav Apte, when the weather came to their rescue and no further play was possible.

It was the first drawn Test between the sides, but the second came soon afterwards in the fifth Test match, in Calcutta (now Kolkata).

It was a series where bowlers had generally had the upper hand, but this match was more about what the batters could do.

India won the toss and opted to bowl, and half-centuries from opener Hanif Mohammad and Imtiaz Ahmed helped Pakistan to 257. Dattu Phadkar was the best of the Indian bowlers with 5-72.

India struggled to keep pace in their first innings until Phadkar made 57. Then debutant Deepak Shodhan, batting at number eight, scored 110 with 15 fours. His efforts helped India build a healthy first-innings lead by compiling 397.

Any hopes, however, of India bowling Pakistan out cheaply second time round were effectively ended by Waqar Hasan's 97 and Nazar Mohammad’s 47. Pakistan were able to declare on 236/7.

India needed only 97, but there was hardly any time left. Time ran out when they were 28 without loss.

It meant that India had won the series by two matches to one, with two games drawn.