Inzamam, Younis cut Indian bowlers to size

Thatscricket.com March 24

By Suhrid Barua

Bangalore: Not many cricketers are fortuitous enough to feature in hundred Test matches. It calls for a gargantuan amount of tenacity, consistency and off course the ability to reach there. Inzamam-ul-Haq joined an elite brigade when he took the field at the Chinnaswamy on Thursday.

Not just chuffed with his 100th Test appearance, Inzamam was determined to make the occasion a memorable one. The Indians had it coming the moment Inzy strode out after the early departure of their openers.What unfolded in the end was something that would have sent shivers down the Indian spine.

The big man from Multan whose languid elegance, so synonymous to his batting, was brought out in full evidence as he along with vice-captain Younis Khan belted rollicking hundreds as the tourists closed out day one on 323 for two.

He was looking in ominous form remaining unconquered on 184 with 25 boundaries while his deputy Younis Khan was not out on 127 containing 12 fours and one six as the pair raised a monumental 316-runs for the third wicket.

The Indian bowlers, who had everything going for them in the last two Tests were clueless against the onslaught of Inzamam. He played every ball on its merit. If the ball merited respect, he would just play defensively down the line and when there were loose balls on offer, he would pounce on it.

The supreme confidence of Inzamam rubbed off on vice-captain Younis Khan as the pair frustrated the hosts' bowlers who remorselessly went about their job.The burly man brought up his 20th Test hundred and became the only fifth batsman in Test history to achieve the feat in his hundredth Test.

He now joins the likes of Colin Cowdrey, Javed Miandad, Gordon Greenidge and Alec Stewart in the list. If one thought the sultry conditions would take its toll on him and Pakistan skipper would throw it away, Indians were in a for rude shock.

His famish for runs continued as he milked the bowlers to all parts of Chinnaswamy.Younis Khan, whose confidence soared after his superb hundred at the Eden, continued to make merry and provided the ideal support cast for his captain.

He soon arrived at his eighth Test ton as the Indians surrendered the initiative thick and fast and at times only looked like simply going through the motions.

To start off the day, Inzamam did the most important thing correct-he called the coin correctly and promptly decided to make first use of the wicket.The move didn't seem validated initially as swashbuckler Shahid Afridi perished, pouched by Dravid in the slips off Balaji, who was settling down into a nice rhythm.

Yaseer Hamid, who tipped out Salman Butt in the eleven in place of Taufeeq Umar, started on a confident note with a punchy drive off Pathan. But he only flattered to deceive.

The pint-sized right-hander dangled at an away-going delivery off Pathan to be snapped by keeper Kaarthick for four.Home-town hero Anil Kumble toiled throughout the day on a track which had very little for the bowlers. His 23 overs cost 93 runs with nothing to shown on the wickets column.