 Misbah-ul-Haq, Ishant Sharma share honours in Bangalore
11th Dec 2007 19:02 IST
Agencies
Pakistani batsman Misbah-ul-Haq hit his second century while Indian fast bowler Ishant Sharma captured his maiden five-wicket haul on the fourth day at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore today even as the third and final Test seemed headed for a tame draw.
Misbah (133 not out) underlined his growing stature as Pakistan's middle order mainstay by not only helping the team to avoid follow-on but taking them to a safe total of 537, making it difficult for the hosts to force a result.
For the hosts, the individual brilliance came from the young Ishant, who looked an improved bowler today and finished with 5/118 to notch up his maiden five-wicket haul.
Ishant did exceedingly well in the post-lunch session as he polished off the Pakistan tail forcing an early tea to buttress his claim for a berth in the Australia-bound team.
India, meanwhile, ended with the dubious distinction of conceding the most number of extras in a Test innings, a show even worse that the 71 gave away by the West Indies against Pakistan at Georgetown in 1988.
Resuming on 369/5, Misbah and Kamran Akmal (65) added another 63 runs, while Yasir Arafat too chipped in with a handy 40-run knock as Pakistan inched closed towards the Indian total.
While Ishant was the pick of the Indian bowlers, Harbhajan Singh claimed two wickets.
Arafat was the first to go after Misbah completed a well-deserved century. Arafat had little clue as he played on to a delivery from Ishant, which rattled his stumps.
Two balls later, Ishant cleaned up Mohammad Sami (1) with a beautiful yorker. And in the next two overs, he got rid of Shoaib Akhtar (1), who hopped and lobbed a simple catch to Gautam Gambhir at short leg, and last man Danish Kaneria (4), who spooned a catch back to the bowler, leaving Misbah stranded at 133.
Misbah faced 322 balls and hit 17 fours during his stellar knock.
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