INDIA v PAKISTAN 1983-84

Approximately an hour on the second day and the whole of the third were washed out, but this loss of time was not the reason for another inconclusive finish. Both teams made changes. India swapped one left-arm spinner, Doshi, for another, Shastri. Pakistan, without Salim Malik, who was ill, and omitting their left-arm spinner, Iqbal Qasim, recruited two uncapped batsmen in Shoaib Mohammad, son of Hanif, and the Kenyan-born Qasim Omar.

Moving Mudassar down to strengthen the middle order proved a tactical error, his experience being missed at the start of the innings to combat a grassy pitch on which India, winning the toss again, decided to bowl first. At the end of the first day Pakistan were 185 for seven, Kapil Dev having struck twice in his opening spell and again with the second new ball. Significant opposition came only from Zaheer and Miandad who, despite being under the weather, made 66 before falling to a superb out-swinger from Kapil Dev. Although the second new ball was only five overs old at the start of the second day, India could not break through again for more than two hours, Wasim Raja, who was last out for 125, and Tahir Naqqash adding 95 for the eighth wicket, a record for Pakistan against India. When Tahir was out, Raja, prompted by the danger of running out of partners, cut loose in brilliant fashion.

Although Tahir's long stay had suggested that the pitch had become very easy paced, India were 37 for two at the close of the second day. Gavaskar, going too far across to glance, was bowled behind his legs, while Amarnath edged a ball angled across his body. The fourth day, following the loss of the third, was tedious with India scoring only 154 runs from 85 overs while losing Yashpal and Patil.

If Pakistan did not put India under greater pressure, it was because they dropped at least five chances, three of them before India had avoided the follow-on. Gaekwad should have gone at 39, but Bari dropped a snick that was heading for the slips. At 94 he was put down again, off Mudassar, at mid wicket by Iqbal Sikandar, a substitute whom the Pakistanis regarded as one of the best fielders in the world. Patil was also dropped twice. Gaekwad and Shastri held up Pakistan for 195 minutes, during which they added 78, and another long, slow partnership followed between Gaekwad and Binny. Pakistan's bowling was willing but blunt and India's innings dragged on into the last hour of the match, although the last four wickets fell rapidly to Wasim Raja. Gaekwad's double-hundred, the slowest in any Test, came off 426 balls, took 652 minutes and contained seventeen 4s.