
|

Danish Kaneria was severely mauled by Brian Lara but then 'on this surface, any success, two, three or five wickets, is a victory in its own right'
© Getty Images
|
|
Seldom does a five-wicket haul occasion muted celebration, but a
12th one for Danish Kaneria is one such instance. He did dismiss Brian Lara but it came at exorbitant cost. Then again, on this surface, any success, two, three or five
wickets, is a victory in its own right.
The pitch was foremost on Kaneria's mind after a day on which Pakistan
pulled themselves out from a spot of considerable bother, asking local
curators to make more helpful tracks. "This wicket has no life at all and
you have to put a lot of effort into it. I know in the winter seasons in
Punjab it is difficult to make good wickets but the wickets should be such
to offer advantage to the home team. Curators here have to work harder to
produce better pitches."
But a day-after sort of feel permeated through the fourth day, Lara's aura still looming large. Of Kaneria's 177 wickets - now equal tenth in Pakistan's list of highest wicket-takers with Sarfraz
Nawaz - none have come more expensive than Lara. It is typical of Kaneria
that he enjoys bowling to him, even after Lara, at one stage, had taken 60
runs from 29 deliveries he faced from Kaneria. "He is such a great batsman
that it is an exciting challenge for me to bowl to him. I don't think
getting hit by the world's number one batsman is a failure on my part.
I am actually happy that a player as great as Lara hits me around. I learn
from that but he has hit everyone from around the world."
Not all of them have been hit for 26 runs in an over, as Kaneria was,
though Robin Peterson of South Africa, dispatched for 28 by Lara once,
offers company. Talking about the over, Kaneria recognized he had been
bested. "I was just thinking I wanted to block him and stop his scoring.
He is a fantastic timer of the ball. He sees the ball from my hand and
reads it so well which is the sign of a great player. I wanted to trap him
but he was thinking ahead of me."
Trapping him he tried, as variations were utilized, angles changed and
flights lowered, none to much effect. "I changed my action every now and
then, used the crease a bit more. I tried different angles and variations
and you have to give batsmen boundaries to buy their wickets. It just
didn't work this time." But, as he was also quick to remind everyone
bullishly, ultimately, he did get rid of him. "I also got him out. I know
he had made a double hundred by then, but he sets himself for making 400
usually so it is something."
Solid half-centuries from Imran Farhat, Younis Khan and Mohammad Yousuf,
second for the match for each of them, mean that Pakistan are only 21 runs
behind, eight wickets in hand and a whole day left. A draw is the
honourable and realistic option though Kaneria, ever the optimist, thinks
otherwise. "We weren't negative today and we just wanted to play
positively which I think we did with our batting. We are batting well. If
we can get quick runs, make a total, we can put them under pressure as
last days are always difficult."
More realistic claims to victory are those made by Daren Ganga, though he
also acknowledged that the pitch wasn't likely to do them any favours.
"The pitch is playing really well still. It is really placid and not
offering much help to bowlers. The second new ball tomorrow morning will
be the key period. We are obviously aiming for the win. We'd like to go to
Karachi with the series tied and a chance to win the series."
.
Osman Samiuddin is Pakistan editor of Cricinfo