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Filed under kolkata test match

Itsonlycricket has recieved dozens of emails, specially from English & Aussie fans, asking why India vs Pakistan cricket matches contain so much of attention. and why experts consider Ind v Pak test series bigger than Ashes?

Looking at this second test match at Kolkata - we've our first reason - both teams bitterly hate losing to each other! consider the following..

Expirience : 570 test matches for Pakistan team (collectively) as compared to 742 for Indian players.

Add injuries to Mohamamd Asif, Sohail Tanvir & captain Shoaib Mallik who didn't play this match. In fact, 197 overs were played by India in the test and Pakistan's permier bowler - Shoaib Akhtar - bowled just 37 overs cause of Viral Infections. Result : India piled on 616 in first Innings as Eden Gardens pitch started dusting & turning from 2nd day onwards..

Yet, Pakistan drew the match! how? Little determination, some quality batting and lost of healthy rivalry!

This Kolkata test match would have finished within 3 days, if some other batsman than Pakistan's were facing spin duo of Anil Kumble & Harbhajan Singh - leathal bowlers for Kolkata kind of pitch. Pak batsman acted smart : they realised the lack of pace off the 22 yard strip and played everything off the backfoot. They picked all kind of deliveries bowled by champion Indian spinners & Earned their draw.. keeping the series alive!

India vs Pakistan : 2nd test, Indianoil Cup : Kolkata 30 Nov – 4 Dec 2007
India 1st Inn : 616 for 4 dec (152.5 ovs)	India 2nd Inn : 184 for 4 dec (42.4 overs)
Wasim Jaffer 202(274b, 34x4), Karthik 1	Wasim Jaffer 56, Dinesh Karthik 28
R. Dravid 50, S Tendulkar 82(109),	MS Dhoni 37, Ganguly 46, Dravid 8*
Ganguly 102(156b), Laxman 112*(178)	Shoaib Akhtar 12.4-0-46-2
Tanvir & Daniesh Kaneria 2 wkts each	Target : 345 from minimum of 81 overs
Pakistan 1st Inn : 456 allout (151.1 ovs)	Pakistan 2nd Inn : 214 for 4 from 77 ovs
Salman Butt 42, Hameed 21, Yousuf 6	Hameed 14(26), Akmal 14(42), Butt 11
Younis Khan 43, Misbah 161 *(352b)	Younis Khan 107* (182b, 14x4)
Faisal Iqbal 0, Akmal 119(210), Sami 38	Misbah 6, Md Yousuf 44* (110balls)
Tanvir 0, Harbhajan Singh 46-9-122-5	Kumble 2/73, Zaheer 1/32, Munaf 1/21
Test drawn, Wasim Jaffer Man of the match.

Few final Kolkata Notes :
-I resisted, but now have to mention the two wife's we had all throughout the 5 days of this test match - Ayesha Jaffer and Nikita Vanjara - married to Indian opening pair - Wasim Jaffer & Dinesh Karthik. I'm looking for more information into Jaffer-Ayesha marriage but I can tell you something about Karthik-Nikita, who are childhood friends (because their fathers are best of friends) and spent their early days together in Kuwait were both fathers once worked!

-Pakistani pundits have once again started demanding Younis Khan being given the captainship, after the batsman lead from front to save this test match. This was Younis Khan's 3rd century in last 4 test matches he has played and all of them have come in the fouth innings.. who says batting gets tough towards Day 5 of test matches!?!

-This was 58th test match between India and Pakistan (Full summary list), and it was 36th draw. Cricket carawan now moves to Bangalore where 3rd and final test match will be played from 8-12 december. get the tickets.

Flawless Jaffer stands tall on Day 1 : 2nd test

Wanted : Pitch curators for India & Asia

Ganguly & Laxman rub it in on Pak : Day 2 story

Akmal - Misbah lead Pakistan fight-back on Day 3

India push for win, Pak eyes draw : Day 4

Gutsy Pakistan earn draw, keep series alive