On This Day: October 28, 2004 - Abdul Razzaq takes career-best Test bowling figures versus Sri Lanka

[Gotham Cronie]

After Sri Lanka had followed up their victory in the ODI tri-series tournament with a 201-run win in the 1st Test on their tour of Pakistan in 2004, the home side knew they needed to fight back in the second Test to save face. All-rounder Abdul Razzaq did his part, taking career-best Test bowling figures on Day 1.

Skipper Inzamam-ul-Haq won the toss and elected to bat in Karachi, leaving many scratching their heads. Not only was the pitch made for batting, but he giving Test debuts to Rana Naved-ul-Hasan and Riaz Afridi in the process, who were called up to replace the injured Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Sami.

Questions had also been raised about the place in the playing XI for Abdul Razzaq, who had only taken nine wickets in his last seven matches. Razzaq silenced those critics on the very first day.

Sri Lanka had made their way to 126/4 before the all-rounder dismissed Thilan Samaraweera. He wouldn't stop their has he continued to peck away at Sri Lanka's batting lineup, taking the next three wickets as well to leave them at 164/8. After the visiting slide recovered to 208/8, Danish Kaneria had Romesh Kaluwitharana caught behind for his third wicket. Abdul Razzaq ensured there wouldn't be another recovery, having Rangana Herath caught behind on the very next delivery to complete his 5-wicket haul and to dismiss Sri Lanka for 208. Razzaq's final bowling figures were 5/35 in 23.1 overs, a career-best effort.


Scorecard:
http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/64106.html

 

[R Shahid]

That was awesome.
I wanna see Razzaq in T20's vs SA

 

[Osman]

have long looked for highlights of this match or this particular spell of bowling...have never been able to find it on youtube...not even in robelindas collection

 

[Paradox]

This was a fairly low-key series I'm guessing.

 

[DHONI183]

On This Day October 28, 2004: Abdul Razzaq takes career-best Test bowling figures

Ah´ I remember this match! Pakistan, at once, seemed to have messed up the run chase but then took control after the loss of four wickets quite early.

Sanath Jayasuriya dropped Shoaib Malik quite early in the innings, a tough chance, which could otherwise added further twist to the game. But Pakistan I feel would have gotten over the line as long as Inzamam-ul-Haq was still to bat.

After a brilliant 138, Kumar Sangakkara in frustration threw his bat up in the air after getting out. The bat came back to hit the stumps and I think he was fined.

One of those series´ where Jayasuriya was so brutal in the early over. Apart from the century in this game, there was one memorable double century from him in the first Test match where he formed a partnership of more than a hundred with Dilhara Fernando for the eighth wicket. He hardly allowed the latter to be on strike and really blasted the Pakistan bowling. Thilan Samaraweera reminded me so much of VVS Laxman with his strokeplay in that particular series.

Ah´ the childhood memories....

 

[Abdullah719]

It was sad to see his bowling decline so suddenly towards the middle and end of his career.