India very nearly snatched a dramatic victory in the third and final cricket Test
against Pakistan but their late bid to push for a historic 2-0 series triumph
was thwarted by bad light here today.
After setting a stiff victory target of 374 in 48 overs, the Indians had the
visitors gasping at a precarious 162 for seven on a rapidly deteriorating track
before bad light forced an anti-climactic end to the match.
Though the match ended in a draw, the Indians clinched their first Test series
win on home soil against Pakistan in 28 years with a 1-0 verdict but
the margin could have been 2-0 had the hosts not delayed their declaration till
one hour after the lunch break.
Just when it seemed that the game would peter out to a dull
draw, the home team injected some life in the last session of play which saw
as many as seven wickets fall in quick succession with the M Chinnaswamy stadium
pitch becoming quite unplayable.
Mohammed Yousuf and Mohammed Sami promptly walked back to the
pavilion after the umpires offered them the light, though the Indians stayed
on the ground hoping for light to improve.
It was captain Anil Kumble who turned the game on its head as he ripped
through the Pakistan top oder by scalping the first five wickets while
Yuvraj Singh chipped in with two wickets.
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