PAKISTAN v INDIA 1989-90

At Faisalabad, November 23, 24, 25, 27, 28. Drawn. Toss: Pakistan. The Pakistanis, troubled by injuries, recalled Saleem Jaffer and, as in the First Test, pressed two newcomers. Naved Anjum and wicket-keeper Nadeem Abbasi, into service. As the wintry conditions of the Punjab province were likely to assist seam bowlers, Imran Khan did not hesitate to insert India on what appeared to be a fast wicket. A bright start of 68, to be India's best of the series, and another classical effort from Manjrekar were not sufficient to keep the Indians entirely out of trouble. The first four wickets fell in the space of 33 runs, and it was only in the course of the 143-run stand between Manjrekar and Tendulkar (165 balls) that India showed any sign of having the measure of the Pakistani attack Manjrekar batted almost five and a half hours for his 76, but Imran's fiery spell on the second morning enabled Pakistan to make up for time lost to bad light the previous evening.

When Aamer Malik and Ramiz Raja opened Pakistan's account with a century stand, the inadequacy of the Indian total became apparent. Again Kapil Dev and Prabhakar worked tirelessly to contain the batsmen, but Aamer Malik's solid century provided Pakistan with the basis of a reasonable lead. None the less, even though he and Salim Malik had put on 96 in 103 minutes for the fourth wicket, the time and overs consumed during Pakistan's innings were enormous, given the shortness of the days and the tardy over-rate. It was after lunch on the fourth day before Imran could declare with a lead of just 135.

With Wasim Akram now showing a clear dominance over Srikkanth, it was once again up to Sidhu and Manjrekar to provide stability. They responded well, but the deficit was still to be wiped out when Sidhu contributed to his own run-out. However, Azharuddin shed his initial difference against the short ball, and his 109 from 175 balls, including ten fours, was the innings that determined the course of the match. He provided some anxious moments as he progressed towards his first Test hundred outside India, running out Tendulkar while trying to go from 99 to 100 and being dropped at slip while on the same score. Before the game was called off after seven of the final twenty overs, Prabhakar and Kapil Dev added 95 runs briskly, with the former hitting his first Test fifty to go with his best Test figures of six for 132. Pakistan's attempt to bowl India out a second time had not been helped by the absence of Saleem Jaffer, who had broken down in the first innings.

Man of the Match: S. V. Manjrekar.

Close of play: First day, India 200-4 (S. V. Manjrekar 58*, S. R. Tendulkar 35*); Second day, Pakistan 82-0 (Aamer Malik 26*, Ramiz Raja 45*); Third day, Pakistan 338-6 (Imran Khan 16*, Nadeem Abbasi 5*); Fourth day India 164-2 (S. V. Manjrekar 43*, M. Azharuddin 48*).