 Kumble, Harbhajan spin India to safety at the Kotla
24th Nov 2007 20:00 IST
Agencies
Earlier, resuming at 228/6, India's tail wagged for 14.4 overs that yielded 48 runs before they folded for 276, settling for a 45-run lead over the visitors.
Danish Kaneria polished off the Indian tail claiming three of the last four wickets and Laxman was left stranded on unbeaten 72, paying the price for not taking enough strike and exposing the tailenders.
Kumble (24) succumbed to a rising Kaneria delivery and offered a regulation catch to Y Khan that ended his gritty 69-ball knock.
Sohail Tanvir compounded crisis by bowling Harbhajan (1) around his legs and Kaneria then dealt a double blow to rattle the hosts.
Zaheer Khan (9) perished attempting an encore of the six he had hammered in the previous delivery and Munaf fell for a first ball duck as Kaneria dropped curtains on the Indian innings.
The Pakistani leg-spinner returned with the figure of 4/59, while Tanvir scalped 3/83.
It was baffling to see Laxman giving strike to the tailenders and as a result, the stylish Hyderabadi eventually remained not out on 72, which came off 135 balls and included eight glorious hits to the fence. |
