The first Two Test matches of India’s 2005/06 tour of Pakistan had seen a lot of runs scored, but were generally uneventful. All that was to change with the third Test match, in Karachi.
India won the toss and chose to bowl, a decision that was quickly justified when Irfan Pathan became the first bowler to do the hat-trick in the first over of a Test match. India reduced Pakistan to 39/6 with barely 10 overs bowled.
Their progress was halted by Abdul Razzaq and Kamran Akmal, who put on 115 for the seventh wicket. After Razzaq fell for 45, Akmal found support in Shoaib Akhtar, and they added a further 82 together. Akmal was eventually caught behind for 113, having hit 18 fours, and Akhtar was last man out for 45.
The final Pakistan total of 245 was a lot healthier than it might have been but for their efforts. Irfan took 5-61 for India.
However, India were soon struggling in their reply, losing four wickets for 56 runs, until Sourav Ganguly and Yuvraj Singh helped stopped the rot with a partnership of 81. Ganguly made 34, and Yuvraj went on to top-score for India with 45. But despite Irfan making 40, the lower order failed to contribute significantly, and they were all out for 238 in turn.
Mohammad Asif was the most successful of the Pakistan bowlers claiming 4-78.
Pakistan found it much easier to bat second time round. An opening stand of 109 between Salman Butt (53) and Imran Farhat (57) set them on their way. Both fell in quick succession, but Younis Khan and Mohammad Yousuf then came together in a stand worth 158.
Younis, having struck 11 fours, was out for 77, but Yousuf continued with Faisal Iqbal. They added 38 before Yousuf fell three short of his century. He had 12 fours to his name.
There was still plenty more runs to come for the home time, as Faisal and Shahid Afridi then added a rapid 82 together, until Afridi, who had scored 60 off just 46 balls, including a six and 9 fours, was out.
Then Faisal added 196 with Razzaq before Faisal was finally out for 139, with a six and 16 fours. When Razzaq, whose own innings featured 4 sixes and 5 fours was out next over for 90, Pakistan declared on 599/7. This was the first time in the history of Test cricket that the top seven in a Test innings all scored hundreds.
That meant India needed 607 to win. They lost both openers early, and were always struggling after that. A stand of 103 between Ganguly and Yuvraj for the fifth wicket gave then brief hope, but once Ganguly fell for 37, no one could give Yuvraj the support he needed.
Yuvraj eventually made 122, including a six and 10 fours, but it was largely a solo effort, as India were all out for 265. Razzaq continued his fine individual match by taking 4-88, but Akmal was named Player of the Match.
Pakistan had won by 341 runs to take the series 1-0.