Rain came too late to rescue (9 February 1999)

9 February 1999

Rain came too late to rescue

By Our Special Representative

NEW DELHI, Feb 8: Pakistan woke up on Monday to find they have been tricked by the nature. After forecast of rain for the last three days, it finally came down in force in the early morning of Monday to leave everything wet and the team wondering if they had managed to stay on at the crease on the fourth day probably they would have succeeded in saving the second Test.

With every thing wet and watery, fifth day's play would have been impossible. That would have meant a drawn second Test and 1-0 series win for Pakistan.

"Who can predict what is going to happen the following day. We tried to play session by session but failed to survive the fourth day.

But he admitted that the players must be very dejected. "Yes, they would feel more upset after knowing that weather would have helped draw the match.

"I don't know if we have been beaten fair and square but Anil Kumble's bowling was devastating," he added.

Pakistan manager Shaharyar Khan observed that his team had lost the match after conceding an 80-run first innings lead. "I think our chances were over before stumps on the second day when India had already started their second. On this wicket, 80-run lead was a match-winning one.

"But I feel proud of my boys who worked very hard and showed fighting spirits under difficult conditions," he added.

Source :: Dawn (https://dawn.com/)