16 years ago today, Pakistan beat India in historic Bangalore Test match
Fans of Pakistan cricket will fondly recall this day when Pakistan defeated India at home, in Bangalore, by 168 runs to pull off a historic and emphatic victory.
The Pakistan cricket team, back then, comprised a plethora of heavyweights such as Younis Khan, Inzamam ul Haq, Shahid Afridi and others, who all rose to the occasion to provide Pakistan with a Test victory over a strong Indian side.
Pakistan batted first in the match, piling up a mammoth total of 570 runs before the green shirts were dismissed by India. Younis Khan frustrated the Indian bowlers by playing one hell of a knock, scoring 267 runs from 504 balls while Inzamam put up an impressive 184 runs from 267 balls, on the scoreboard.
In response, the home side managed to score 449 runs before they were dismissed. Sehwag made a laudable double-century while VVS Laxman remained unbeaten on 79.
Leg spinner Danish Kaneria was the pick of the Pakistani bowlers in the first inning, picking up 5 wickets while Mohammad Sami notched three impressive ones.
Younis Khan once again starred in the second inning when Pakistan batted, scoring an unbeaten 84 off 98 balls and Yasir Hameed pitched in with 76 runs before Pakistan declared at 262/2.
India needed 383 runs to win the Test match but failed in their attempt. This time, Shahid Afridi rose to the occasion by taking three wickets while spinner Arshad Khan took two to dismiss India for 214 runs, 168 short of the target.
#OnThisDay in 2005. Pakistan beat India by 168 runs in Bangalore. Younis Khan scored 267 & Inzamam-ul-Haq made 184. In the 2nd innings, Younis Khan made 84*, Shahid Afridi 58 & Yasir Hameed 76. 7 wickets in the match for Danish Kaneria with 5 wickets for Mohammad Sami #Cricket pic.twitter.com/uyRwJfsvSQ
— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) March 28, 2021
While Younis Khan was deservedly awarded the Player of the Match award, India’s Virender Sehwag won the Player of the Series one for his stellar batting.
In the Test series, Danish Kaneria managed to take the highest number of wickets out of all the bowlers, taking 19 scalps at an average of 31.52.
