Century to Amarath

Press, 24 October 1984, Page 56

Century to Amarath

NZPA-AFP Pakistan Mohinder Amarnath, who made a century, and Ravi Shastri were the heroes as India fought a successful second innings rearguard action to earn a draw against Pakistan in the first match of the three-test series in Lahore yesterday. Forced to follow on 272 runs behind after being dismissed for 156 in its first innings, India was 369 for six wickets at the close after batting out the final two days. It was Amarnath and Shastri, having come together when India lost its

fourth wicket at 164 on the fourth day on Monday, who led the Indians to safety with a stubborn fifth-wicket stand of 126. The pair started out the fifth and final day yesterday with India still 92 runs behind Pakistan, but by tea the tourists were almost out of trouble with the score on 317 for six, a lead of 45 with four wickets remaining and about 90 minutes play left. The former Indian captain, Kapil Dev, and Amarnath played out time and shared on unbeaten partnership of 54.

Scores:—Pakistan 428/9 dec. drew with India 156 and 371/6

(S. Gavaskar 37, A. Gaekwad 60, M. Amarnath 101 n. 0., R. Shastri 71, K. Dev 33 n. 0.; Jaialuddin 2/61). • After the drawn test, the Indian captain, Sunil Gavaskar, harshly criticised the Pakistani umpires who officated. “It is a miracle that we saved this test match despite the best efforts of the Pakistani umpires,” Gavaskar said in a statement after the match. Gavaskar said before coming to Pakistan he expected close decisions against his side, but what had happened at Lahore was “pre-planned and pre-determined”.