Transcript of the Commentary: India vs Pakistan,
2nd Test Delhi, February 4-8, 1999

Day -2, First hours play

Prem: And that, folks, is drinks. Pak on 28/1 at the first break and we will be back in two.

Prem: Huge hoik from Ijaz there, not quite the way to go on this track one would think, but in keeping with his mindset through this innings, no ball from Srinath and one more to the Pak total. 28/1.

Prem: Srinath continues. Ijaz meanwhile has got 14 off 23 balls with three fours, indicative of what I was telling you just now, that he is really gooing for his shots. Afridi though looks very very uncertain... again, he is in a tangle to one darting in at top pace, gets it on the inside of the thigh and that seems to have hurt.

Prem: outside off this time and Ijaz throwing the kitchen sink at it, he seems to have made up his mind to go for his shots here, four through cover and 26/1 the score at the end of the over.

Prem: Afridi not quite able to get away here, his 8 runs have come off 35 balls faced, and that includes one four, so it's been a rather rough ride for a batsman who loves to play freely. Ijaz on strike and again, going way across to off to play to leg, but finds the fielder square on the on. Two slips the only close catchers at this point.

Prem: End of the over and Prasad continues, 22/1 the score.

Prem: Srinath continuing here with Pak on 19/1, pitches a full line on off, Afridi squared up, gets two through square with the flick and a no ball as well, so that is three more added to the Pak score. 22/1. Now Bucknor unhappy with Afridi for running on the pitch, he is being very proactive today.

Prem: Ijaz, off the first ball from Srinath, playing across the line, going across to off a long way, gets the single wide of mid on. Ijaz tends to go a long way across -- not sure that is a good idea on this track, if it stays low, then he's gone. A ball pitched too full there, and Afridi gets the half volley, a straight bat, full flourish, hitting on the up and four past the bowler, 19/1.

Prem: Very good linehere from Prasad, keeping it just around off, so the batsman is never sure which way it is going next -- this time, AFridi plays for the straighter one, gets it on the pad as it darts in off the seam, but the strike is on leg stump with Prasad bowling wide of the crease, no damage. 15/1 the score at the end of the over

Prem: The airy drive from Ijaz, off the outer edge the ball racing behind point, single and Pak 14/1, Prasad now to Afridi and squaring him up, the push finding mid on.

Prem: Prasad continuing, and here he seems to be deliberately bowling fractionally within himself, letting the pitch slow it down further, going a very full length, and moving it both ways off the seam.

Prem: Bucknor looked a bit tense and upset and after that chat, it is Azhar who looks angry,, gesticulating, not quite sure what all that was about but I guess we will find out soon enough. Meanwhile, 13/1 at the end of the over.

Prem: Srinath this time lets fly with an authentic bouncer, interesting since there were no real bouncers when the Pak bowlers were operating. Bucknor meanwhile having a bit of a chat with Azhar, not sure what that is about.

Prem: Good bowling here, keeping Afridi on strike and putting him under pressure, Srinath's gameplan seems to be to make sure that the batsman cant come onto the front foot in predetermined fashion and swing through the line. Has Afridi in no man's land, neither forward nor back, and playing tentatively

Prem: Srinath stretching for pace here, in his first ball, overstepping, no ball adding one more to the score, 13/1. Ball two and that should have been the LBW, AFridi beaten for pace and movement but in the end, the ball doing just that bit too much, could be missing leg but that was a close one. 13/1.

Prem: Again, AFridi looking for the quick single after a hesitant push at one on middle from Prasad. 12/1 the score, Ijaz the man on strike. Prasad, outside off, has Ijaz driving, finds cover, no run, 12/1 at the end of the over

Prem: Prasad bowling full length here, drawing Afridi forward, ball three beats him outside off, after the first two balls had come in to the batsman.

Prem: Now that is what I was hoping wouldn't be tried -- Srinath bouncing and Ijaz hooks, not too clean but enough wood on it for four down to fine leg. They've been trying this throughout, in Chennai as well, and letting Ijaz score runs with the hooks and pulls -- when they pitch up, he looks very uncomfortable, so it really seems silly to be giving away free hits. 11/1 the score.

Prem: So there's the single, Afridi driving wide of mid off, quick single taken and Ijaz rather lucky to make his ground, Tendulkar went for the keeper's end from mid off and Ijaz was coasting, thinkingthe throw would go to the other end. 6/1 the score.

Prem: Pak 5/1 at the end of the Prasad over, and Srinath continues, bowling to Afridi. I"D love to see these two work it so that Prasad is bowling to Afridi, and Srinath to Ijaz, a single would come in handy for that.

Prem: Pak 5/1 at the end of the Prasad over, and Srinath continues, bowling to Afridi. I"D love to see these two work it so that Prasad is bowling to Afridi, and Srinath to Ijaz, a single would come in handy for that.

Prem: Prasad now to Ijaz. Prasad through the first over kept a very full length, and is noticeably getting the ball to seam around. Ijaz drives, and mistimes to one outside off, fielded on the follow through.

Prem: Srinath continuing, pitching a three quarter length in this over after Afridi drove fluently at the firist two balls, both fuller in length. Perhaps the way to go would be to continue to keep it up, cut back on pace and look to move the bal away. There you go -- that ball was faster, lifted a bit off a length, left him late and Afridi beaten outside off, just missing the edge. 5/1 at the end of the over.

Prem: Srinath continues, Afridi the man on strike. Afridi ahs been playing with a full flourish thus far, could be interesting when he faces Prasad, with the ball seaming around.

Prem: An overpitched ball as Prasad strives for the yorker, Ijaz spotting the halfvolley and putting it away through midwicket, four all the way and Pak 5/1.

Prem: Ijaz Ahmed the new man in, Prasad the bowler, and brings one back, inner edge onto pad straight up.

Prem: Prasad to bowl the second over, and first up, a huge shout for LBW against Anwar, the benefit of the doubt being given probably because the strike was on the front foot and could have been going high -- though on this pitch, I doubt it. Anwar distinctly lucky on that one, and the next ball, a lovely away swinger, Anwar pushes, gets the edge and he's gone. That was a superlative ball, the earlier ball came in, Saeed played for an encore here and got the one going the other way, he's out caught Mongia, Pak 1/1.

Prem: Srinath pitching one up and Afridi has a real go at it, good flowing drive but finds mid on, no run.

Prem: Srinath coming up with a slower ball off his second delivery and Anwar squared up and pushing in front. Srinath and Prasad hopefully have been told to pitch a very full length, on this track there is no percentage in short pitched stuff. Anwar meanwhile playing to mid on, quick single taken, 1/0 Pak.

Prem: And here we go, Anwar and Afridi out in the middle and Srinath poised at the top of his run, to begin the Pak innings.

Prem: The Pakistan innings will begin in ffive minutes, we will be taking a brief break and back with live at that point

Prem: Prasad using his pads as first line of defence here. Saqlain tosses one up and Prasad heaves -- that was the straighter ball, beats the batsman in flight and line. No run. SM, and this one pushed to cover, quick single taken, direct hit though and he's gone. 252 all out India, within five minutes of start of play.

Prem: Saqlain, and Prasad with an immaculate forward defensive push -- slip, gully, silly point and short square leg crowding the bat.

Prem: Prasad flicks and misses, gets two leg byes and India onto 251/9. Next ball, played to short midwicket, a misfield by Mushie permitting the single and India at the end of the Akram over, 252/9.

Prem: Harbajan Singh the last man in, gets it on leg and turns it round, gets the single, India 249/9.

Prem: Quicker ball on leg and Prasad off his pads plays it square. Ball three, he's played it to point, Mongia races the single, the throw comes in, stumps are broken and Mongia is gone.

Prem: Akram setting a deep field, letting Mongia get the single off the first ball through square leg, getting Praasad on strike and bringing the field in now.

Prem: It's Akram. The new ball is due but it hasn't been taken yet, Akram bowling with a short midwicket and one slip for Mongia.

Prem: Prasad pushing his pad at it, ends the Saqlain over which was left unfinished last evening. And Mongia coming on strike, be interesting to see if it is pace or spin.

Prem: Okay, we are ready to go with Mongia and Prasad walking out, and Saqlain with the ball. One ball left in this over, which will be taken by Prasad.

Prem: Good morning all, we are about five minutes away from start of play on day two. Cool, chill morning, and a pitch which has a crumbly look to it.

Day -1:
Last Hour, Fifth Hour, Fourth Hour, Third Hour, Second Hour, First Hour