 Bangalore
Dec 9: Sourav Ganguly struck an epic 239 and fellow
left-hander Irfan Pathan hit his maiden century as India
tightened the noose around Pakistan in the third and
final cricket Test here on Sunday. For the second
successive day, there was no respite for the toothless
Pakistani attack with Ganguly bringing up his maiden
Test double ton and adding 178 runs with Pathan (102)
for the seventh wicket as India amassed a massive 626 in
their first essay. At stumps, Pakistan were 86 for one,
still 540 runs behind and left with nine batsmen to
avoid the ignominy of follow-on.
Salman Butt (50) and Younis Khan (7)
were batting at the crease when stumps were drawn. Anil
Kumble had trapped Yasir Hameed (19) to draw the first
blood. In his third over, Kumble found success trapping
Hameed (19) as the batsman played on the front foot to a
fuller length straight delivery that was quick and kept
low. Earlier, India recorded a mammoth total before
being dismissed 20 minutes into the final session with
Irfan Pathan recording his maiden Test century adding to
two other glorious knocks of Ganguly and Yuvraj Singh
(169). Pathan was the last to be dismissed for a
well-made 102 off 133 balls with the help of 10 fours
and four sixes, the last six off Danish Kaneria aimed at
the official scoreboard confirming his century as he ran
short of partners.
Both Kumble (4) and Harbhajan Singh (4)
quickly departed after Ganguly's exit before Ishant
Sharma (0 not out) survived four balls from Yasir Arafat
to enable Pathan complete a well-deserved century.
Ganguly played a classy innings of sheer grit and
handsome stroke-play before being dismissed for his
highest ever score in Test cricket, going for a sweep
shot and missing a Kaneria delivery to be bowled 12
minutes before tea break. The left-hander's grand knock
which came in 523 minutes off 361 balls and included 30
boundaries and two sixes off Kaneria, was also the
highest by an Indian at this venue surpassing Virender
Sehwag's 201 against Pakistan four seasons ago.
 India sent the Pakistan fielders on a
leather hunt in the post-lunch session, which saw 150
runs being scored in 30 overs with Pathan quickly
learning the scoring lessons from his senior partner at
the crease. As a consolation for the visitors, debutant
Yasir Arafat (5-161) achieved a well-deserved
five-wicket haul with Harbhajan's wicket, while Kaneria
bagged three for 168. Pakistan did not bowl Shoaib
Akhtar in the post-lunch session though towards the end
of it he was allowed to bowl having completed the
compensation time. Akhtar took the field in the morning
and as per the laws of the game completed the period for
which he was absent from the field on the opening day
about half an hour before tea break on Sunday. Shoaib
had to be taken to hospital on the first day after he
complained of back pain and the MRI scan revealed no
injury but just muscle spasm. (Agencies)...
Scorecard
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