SIALKOT: Navjot Sidhu played a marthon innings to put together a sketchy 97 for India, to dash Pakistan’s hopes of winning the fourth cricket test and the series, which ended in a draw at the Jinnah stadium on December 13th.

The match was called off at tea with India making 234 for seven in their second. innings. Manoj Prabhakar (11) and Kiran More (17) were not out after Sidhu fell three runs short of his first century of the tour.

Sidhu was helped in a 101run fifth wicket stand by the young Sachin Tendulkar (57) in negating all efforts of the Pakistani pace trio of Imran Khan (three for 68), Wasim Akram (two for 41) and Zakir Khan (two for 68).

‘The Indian opener was named man of the match, ensuring that India took that honor for the fourth time in the series.

For Pakistan their idea of preparing a grassy pitch to put India in a tight spot nearly boomeranged on them when the tourists scored 324 in their first innings and had the hosts by the collar when they battled for only 250 runs to concede a lead of 74.

Pakistan captain Imran Khan realized that both the teams had reached a hopeless. situation and left the ground before the tea break. With the consent of umpires John Holder and John Hampshire. The match was called of Since 1952, this was the 44th India Pakistan test match, with 33 ending in draws. India have won four and lost seven.

In fact the moment India took a first innings lead and recovered after a disastrous start in their second, the match seemed destined for a draw though Pakistan pulled out all the stops to go for a win.

At one time in a winning position, India had to remain satisfied with a draw after their top order batsmen, barring Sidhu and Sachin Tendulkar, surrendered meekly 10 the Pakistani pace fury in the second Sidhu, who scored his 97 with the aid of 13 boundaries, was removed by Debutant Zakir Khan after the batsman figured in a 101 run fifth wicket stand with Sachin Tendulkar and a 59 run stand for the next with Kapil Dev.

Called on to bowl for the first time in the innings in the 68th over, Zakir Khan grabbed two quick wickets having Sidhu caught by Imran Khan at backward point and trapping Kapil Dev leg before for 27.

Though Sidhu had two “lives” being dropped by substitute Ejaz Ahmed at second slip off Wagar Yunus when he was on 64 and at 87 when a square cut eluded Imran, he kept one end plugged till the time was safe from India’s viewpoint.

Kapil Dev launched a brief assault on the Pakistani bowling for the first time in the innings, hooking Akram for a boundary and on driving for another.

Kapil who scored 27 off 46 balls with three fours, shuffled across to an incoming delivery from Zakir Khan and was declared leg before wicket.

Under a heavily overcast sky and with immense pressure on their shoulders Sidhu (54) and Tendulkar (33) resumed at overnight total of 102 for four to face the Pakistani bowlers, who were gunning for victory.

They overcame fiery bowling by Imran Khan and Wasim Akram to stabiles the shaky Indian innings with a timely stand ‘and helped the total reach 150 at lunch.

Runs came at snail’s pace but Tendulkar and Sidhu defied the Pakistan attack methodically to put India in a safe position.

The 16 year old Tendulkar recovered from a bloodied nose Wednesday to display his technique and get for 190 minutes, while taking into stride with case everything that imran, Akram and Yunus delivered to him.

Tendullar’s first cover drove Imran on the backfoot to free India of the shackles draped by the Pakistani bowlers in the first four overs and then meted out similar punishment to Akram and Yunus, with a touch of class.

A banner put up by a section of the crowd saying “go home tendulkar and drink milk,” vanished after the 16 year old unleashed his driving power on the Pakistani bowling.

He reached his second half century of the series with five fours off 117 balls and 116 minutes before being caught being off Imran seven runs later.

Tendulkar’s departure at the total of 139 was no deterrent for Sidhu who opened up to hit 10 fours while Kapil Dev had on drove Imran to the ropes to help India enhance their overall Iead to 224 runs, which ultimately laid the foundations of a draw.

The first hour had proved futile for India as only 14 runs were scored off 15 overs after Imran’s opening spell read 5280 and Akram’s 10780.

Sidhu took 10 overs and 25 runs to score his first run of the day but soon warmed up with a brilliantly executed cover drive off Wagar Yunus.

Article extracted from this publication >>  December 22, 1989