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India A skittle out Pak for 112, falter at 43 for 3

The Indian medium pace trio of Ajit Agarkar (5 for 34), Debashish Mohanty (3 for 47) and Madhukar (2 for 16) ripped apart Pakistan 'A', skittling the hosts out for a paltry 112 runs on the opening day of the first 'Test' in Rawalpindi today.

Pakistan struck back in the post-tea session to claim three Indian wickets, leaving the visitors reeling at 43 for 3 at stumps.

Veteran Aaqib Javed, who has the best bowling figures in one day cricket, lost the toss for Pakistan 'A'. Put into bat by Gagan Khoda, the home side openers, Salim Elahi and Shahid Afridi, began tentatively.

Afridi, in particular, was constantly beaten by Agarkar's outswingers, but Elahi looked more confident.

Agarkar gave India the breakthrough when he had Afridi caught by Mohanty for 12. Pakistan had just made 24.

The hosts suffered another setback when Azhar Shafiq was claimed by Mohanty after only five runs were added.

Pakistan 'A' was in trouble with the ball swinging both ways. The experienced Basit Ali joined Elahi, and the duo batted on past lunch. They were associated in a 55-run third wicket stand before Madhukar claimed the Karachi batsman. Basit, who made 29 (39 b, 69 m), was caught by Wasim Jaffar at cover.

After the third wicket fell at 84, the other Pakistan batsmen collapsed dramatically, losing seven wickets for just 28 runs.

Elahi waged a lone battle and was eventually caught edging Agarkar to wicketkeeper M S L Prasad. He scored 39 off 92 balls in 138 minutes. The Pakistan middle order caved in as Agarkar claimed Hassan Raza (1) Naim Ashraf and Aaqib for no score. Mohanty chipped in with the wickets of Rana Qayyum and wicketkeeper Hamayun Farhat. The inning ended when Madhukar had spinner Mohammed Hussain holing out to Jatin Paranjpe for a duck. The Pakistan innings lasted only 42.3 overs.

The Pakistanis struck back immediately when Aaqib bowled Bombay opener Wasim Jaffar in the fifth over; the score was three and Jaffar's own contribution 2 (21 b, 21 m). Aaqib was ably assisted by Fazal-e-Akbar, a member of the Pakistan team that played the Independence Cup in Dhaka.

Akbar dealt India two quick blows when he claimed Paranjpe and Prasad when the visitors had scored 13. The seamer rattled the wickets of both batsmen with identical inswingers. Jatin scored two, while Prasad was out first ball.

Akbar, on a hat-trick, was denied the feat. Abbas Ali kept the ball off the stumps and, with skipper Khoda, saw India through the day. When play was called off because of bad light, Khoda was batting on 25 (32 b, 63 m) while Abbas Ali had scored 13 (14b, 27 m).

Scoreboard:

Pakistan A (first innings):
Salim Elahi c Prasad b Agarkar 39
Shahid Afridi c Mohanty b Agarkar 12
Azhar Shafiq c Abbas Ali b Mohanty 0
Basit Ali c Jaffar b Madhukar 29
Hasan Raza c Prasad b Agarkar 1
Rana Qayyum c Paranjpe b Mohanty 10
mohd hussain c Paranjpe b Madhukar 0
Humayun Farhat c Prasad b Mohanty 10
Naeem Ashraf lbw Agarkar 0
Aaqib Javed b Agarkar 0
Fazal-e-Akbar not out 0
Extras: (1 lb,11 nb) 12
Total: (in 42.3 overs) 112 all out

Fall of wickets:1/24,2/29,3/84,4/85,5/86,6/91,7/111,8/112,9/112

Bowling:
Debashish Mohanty: 16.3-4-47-3
Ajit Agarkar: 14-5-34-5
Madhukar: 11-5-16-2
Murli Kartik: 1-0-4-0

India A (first innings): Wasim Jaffar b Javed 02
Gagan Khoda batting 25
Jatin Paranjpe b Akbar 02
M S K.Prasad b Akbar 0
Abbas Ali batting 13
Extras: (1 n.b) 1
Total: (in 12.3 overs) 43 for 3

Fall of wickets: 1/3,2/13,3/13

Bowling:
Aaqib Javed: 6-0-15-1
Fazal-e-Akbar: 6-2-23-2
Naeem Ashraf: 0.3-0-05-0.