Pakistan vs India 1982/83 (Part One)

Jan 24, 2022

Pakistan vs India 1982/83 (Part One) Image

The India tour of Pakistan in the winter of 1982/83 was the longest yet by either side, comprising six Test matches and four ODIs all crammed into two months.

It began with an ODI at the Municipal Stadium in Karachi.

India won the toss, chose to field, and enjoyed early success when they reduced Pakistan to 25/2 and 48/3. Then Javed Miandad came to the crease and made an unbeaten 106 from as many balls, including a six and 12 fours. He put on 111 for the fourth wicket with his captain Imran Khan (49), helping Pakistan reach 224/4 from 40 overs.

India then lost early wickets. Although Dilip Vengsarkar and Mohinder Amarnath led a recovery, they struggled to stay in touch with the required run rate. Yashpal Sharma and Syed Kirmani  tried to provide late impetus with an unbeaten stand of 89, but in the end, India could only muster 210 from their allotted overs. Pakistan won by 14 runs.

The sides then made the journey to Lahore for the first Test match.

India again won the toss and decided to bowl, but the decision proved questionable as openers Mohsin Khan and Mudassar Nazar put on 85. Mudassar fell for 50, but Mohsin went on to make 94 before the scoring mantle was taken up by Zaheer Abbas. He scored 215, including two sixes and 23 fours, making a major contribution Pakistan’s 485. Dilip Doshi was the best of the Indian bowlers, with 5-90.

India, though, made a strong start of their own, with Arun Lal scoring 51 and captain Sunil Gavaskar 83. And then Amarnath scored an unbeaten 109, sharing a fifth-wicket stand of 106 with Sandeep Patil who scored 68. India were eventually dismissed for 379.

With little prospect of forcing a win, Pakistan settled for batting practice and reached 135/1 in their second innings. Mohsin made 101 not out before the umpires removed the bails for the final time.

The match ended in a draw.