Monday, November 26, 2007
NEW DELHI - Sachin Tendulkar completed an attractive half-century as India beat Pakistan by six wickets on the fifth and final day of the opening Test at New Delhi on Monday.
The hosts needed only 32 runs to win with seven wickets in hand to gain a 1-0 lead in the three-Test series, with Tendulkar (56 not out) completing the formality with his 46th half-century.
Resuming at 171-3, India achieved their 203-run target after just 6.2 overs on Monday morning. Venkatsai Laxman remained unbeaten on six.
Tendulkar, 32 overnight, was in punishing mood as he pulled fast bowlers Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Sami for fours early in the morning.
He reached his half-century when he hammered leg-spinner Danish Kaneria through the covers for a boundary and finished the match with a square-cut four off Akhtar.
Akhtar was the most impressive bowler, finishing with 4-58.
He again bowled with fire, denying left-handed Sourav Ganguly a 50 in his second over. The Indian batsman was caught pulling by debutant Sohail Tanvir at fine-leg.
Ganguly fell at his overnight score of 48 after putting on 88 for the fourth wicket with Tendulkar to help ensure a comfortable victory. He hit eight fours in his 64-ball knock.
India virtually wrapped up the match on Saturday when they stopped Pakistan from setting a challenging fourth-innings target. They dismissed the tourists for 247 after gaining a 45-run first-innings lead.
"This ground is very special for me," said India captain Anil Kumble.
"I think the boys responded very well. Everyone contributed in this win. The stand between Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Laxman in the first innings was very crucial."
The match was a personal triumph for veteran leg-spinner Kumble, who finished with seven wickets on his captaincy debut. He was named man of the match.
It was at this ground that he became the second bowler in Test history after Englishman Jim Laker to grab 10 wickets in an innings against Pakistan in 1999.
"We are a good side and I am confident that we will recover. If we had made 300 in the second innings, we would have been in the contest," said Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik.
The second Test begins in Kolkata on Friday.