Pakistan vs India 2005/06 (Part One)

Mar 07, 2022

Pakistan vs India 2005/06 (Part One) Image

Ten months after the two sides had last met, Pakistan and India once again renewed their rivalry on the cricket pitch, when India toured their neighbour to play three Test matches and five ODIs.

The action began with the first Test in Lahore, in a match where bat very much dominated ball.

Pakistan won the toss and batted. Although Salman Butt was run out early, Shoaib Malik and Younis Khan put on 124 before Malik was out for 59, having struck a six and seven fours.

That brought no respite for the Indian bowlers, though, as Younis added 319 with Mohammad Yousuf for the third wicket. Yousuf was the more aggressive of the pair, while Khan was content to pick off the runs where he could. Their partnership was eventually broken when Yousuf, who had made 173 with two sixes and 22 fours, was stumped. But, although captain Inzamam-ul-Haq fell cheaply, the run onslaught continued.

Younis fell one short of his double century, having struck 26 fours, but Shahid Afridi and Kamran Akmal then added 170 before Afridi was out for 103. He had faced only 80 balls and hit seven sixes and seven fours.

Pakistan continued batting until Akmal reached his century, the fourth of the innings, before declaring on 679/7. Akmal, at that stage, was 102 not out, with two sixes and 11 fours.

India, though, responded in kind.

Virender Sehwag and captain Rahul Dravid opened the innings. Although play was curtailed on Day 3 due to bad light, they took the fight to India with a brilliant opening stand, batting through the entire fourth day without losing a wicket.

Their partnership was eventually broken when Sehwag was caught behind for 254, having faced 247 balls, and struck a six and 47 fours. It was the second fastest double century in Test history.

The pair added 410, three runs short of the then world record opening partnership, between Vinoo Mankad and Pankaj Roy.

By that stage, it was obvious there could be no result. With India on 410/1, the two captains shook hands on the draw. Dravid remained unbeaten on 128.

More than a thousand runs had been scored for the loss of just eight wickets.