Pakistan vs India 1978/79 (Part Two)

Jan 18, 2022

Pakistan vs India 1978/79 (Part Two) Image

The second Test match between Pakistan and India on the 1978/79 tour was played in Lahore. Pakistan won the toss and chose to field. Dilip Vengsarkar made 76, but he lacked support as India were bowled out for 199, Imran Khan and Sarfraz Nawaz taking four wickets each.

Pakistan then piled on the runs, inspired by Zaheer Abbas who made 235 not out, while Wasim Bari scored 85 and captain Mushtaq Mohammad 67. They were able to declare on 539/6.

India produced a much better effort in their second innings. Sunil Gavaskar got a hundred, while Chetan Chauhan made 93, Gundappa Viswanath 83.

That meant Pakistan needed 126 to win in quick time. They got there for the loss of two wickets with minutes to spare.

The third ODI, in Sahiwal, ended in controversial fashion. India conceded the match in protest against the tactic of short-pitched bowling by Pakistan which the home umpires refused to call a wide.

The tour concluded with the third Test match, in Karachi.  

This time India won the toss and batted. Gavaskar setting them on their way with 111, while Kapil Dev, down the order, scored an attacking 59 out of a total of 344.

When it came to Pakistan’s turn to bat, their opening pair of Majid Khan and Mudassar Nazar gave them a good start. That was built on by Javed Miandad, who made exactly 100, and Mushtaq Mohammad with 78. Pakistan declared on 481/9, giving them a first innings lead of 137.

Gavaskar again led from the front in India’s second innings, making 137, whilst Mohinder Amarnath got 83. However, the middle and lower orders failed to back their efforts up, and India were all out for exactly 300.

That gave Pakistan a target of 164 to chase, and they got there, losing two wickets in the process. once again in the nick of time. Miandad was unbeaten on 62 at the end, and Imran on 31.

Pakistan had won the Test series by two matches to nil, and the ODIs courtesy of that controversial outcome in Sahiwal.