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Day 1 : UV & Ganguly make Pak look silly


Ganguly-Yuvraj-Bangalore.jpg What's the record for most runs on Day 1 of a test match, in India? see notes for previous record cause today - India team made 365/5, the new record!

Then, we had the first ever 300 partnership by two left handers, here in India. and then - Yuvraj Singh (UV) made his 3rd test century, all against Pakistan.. so far!

But before all this - India were reduced to 64 for the loss of Jaffer, Gambhir, Dravid and Laxman. Virgin pitch, over confident shots & Pakistani passion had its say in the first session of this India vs Pakistan 3rd test match at Chinnaswamy stadium in Bengaluru. There was no Sachin Tendulkar in the lineup today and hence - Sourav Ganguly came in at number 4. determined & smart! anticipating that Pakistan fast bowlers would target his hips - Ganguly played some cute leg glance past boundary behind! His patience for bad ball was remarkable but as Yuvraj Singh got past his first few strokes - run machine was on. so Ganguly enjoyed from the best seat in the stadium ~ the non-strikers end!

Experience teaches you to keep batting when runs are coming. Sourav Ganguly, as I said, is a smart cricketer and he made sure he'll regain energy tonight to bat tomorrow, again. Yuvraj on ther other hand, still has that 15% more to learn to be (I quote) "one of the best batsman International cricket has ever seen". Today, his 169 runs came off just 203 balls. The Punjab Left hander was his usual murderous self against seam bowler but his play against Danish Kaneria impressed immensely. Yuvraj played nearly everything off the back foot, and occasionally drove with power when Pakistani leg spinner looked to pitch-it-up.

How dearly Indian fans would have liked to see Yuvraj keep his focus & see off the day.. like Prince of Kolkata did!

Yasir-Arafat-Bangalore.jpg First Day Notes from Bengaluru
**Pakistan always throw one new pacer against India. Umar Gul, Mohammad Asif & Aaquib Javed have made impressive starts to their career against arch-rivals.. and today was the turn of Yasir Arafat. The debutant looked like going in same direction with 3 wickets in first 7 overs. Ishant Sharma is also making his debut for India, whereas this Ind v Pak Bangalore test match is first for Irfan Pathan since June 2006 = 1 n half years!

**Shoaib Akhtar was again seen stretching his arms as he ran in to bowl, like Jason Gillespie of Australia used to. sadly, the Bollywood show didn't continue for too long as Shoaib reoccurred his back spasm problem and after few stretches at the boundary ropes (irritating commentatar Aamir Sohail), he was sent to Hospital for MRI scans! that was the end of Day 1 for the Rawalpindi express. Reports say the fast bowler might be out for a day or two more.

**Record for Most Runs scored in a Day's play in a test match is 588, by England against India at Manchester, way back in 1936. Record for most runs on Day 1 of a test match is 494 by Australia, at Sydney.. today's record by India is for most runs on Day 1, in India. Previous was 349 in a Ind v SL match!

**This was Yuvraj Singh's third test match century in his 20th match career. All of them have come against Pakistan (Lahore=112, Mohali=122). Thus, Yuvraj's Innings of 169 in this Bangalore test is his highest score so far. for those who don't know - Yuvraj Singh's Birth day is 12-12-1981, means on coming Wednesday. Moving to Ganguly's first century at Bengalore.. this is also the second time Ganguly has scored back to back century since the Bengal batsman started his career with two 100s in first two tests in England!

**Never a 300 run partnership between left handers was achieved in India. Sourav Ganguly and Yuvraj Singh Partnership struck exactly 300 runs from 395 balls, which also breaks a 7 year record of highest pertnership at Bangalore for the 5th wicket. previously, Jacques Kallis & Lance Klusner of South Africa held the record.

**New India coach, Gary Kirsten joins Team India only from 1st March 2008, officially! but sending the right impression - the South African has come down to Bengaluru to interact with Indian players and observe how they internally are. doing nothing but sitting in dressing room as India plays a close match against Arch-rivals must tell a lot to the coach. as they say - well started, half done!




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