Jan 29, 2005. 11.30am IST
Karachi: Irfan Pathan gave India a rousing start, claiming a hat-trick in the first over of the third Test against Pakistan in Karachi on Sunday.
The left-arm paceman became only the second Indian bowler to claim a Test match hat-trick, after India captain Rahul Dravid won the toss and elected to field on a seaming track at the National stadium.
Harbhajan Singh, who made way for former India captain Sourav Ganguly in the Test, was the first Indian to take a Test hat-trick. He achieved the feat against Australia in the epic second Test in Kolkata, in the
2001 series.
Pathan provided India the breakthrough on the fourth ball, with the wicket of left-hander Salman Butt, who was caught by Rahul Dravid in second slip.
He followed it up with two scorching in-dippers -- the first had stand- in captainYounis Khan trapped leg before wicket and the next got through the defences of Mohammed Yousuf.
The home team suffered a big blow when captain Inzamam-ul-Haq pulled out, not feeling 100 per cent fit because of a back strain.
India made one change from the team that drew the second Test at Faisalabad, bringing in Ganguly for off-spinner Harbhajan, while Faisal Iqbal replaced Inzamam in the Pakistan eleven, with Younis taking over as the captain.
After two high-scoring draws in Lahore and Faisalabad, the Karachi track, known to favour bowlers, is expected to break the series deadlock.
Here is a ball-by-ball account of Pathan's first over where he rocked Pakistan
0.1Pathan to Salman Butt, no run, just short of a good length and on the middle and leg, a bit of swing away from the left-handed Butt, defended awkwardly, the ball loops back down the pitch off the edge.
0.2Pathan to Salman Butt, no run, short of a good length and far outside the off stump, left well alone to the keeper, a bit of swing there.
0.3 Pathan to Salman Butt, no run, and another one short of a length and outside the off swinging away appreciably, left well alone by Butt.
India attacking with three slips and a gully.
0.4 Pathan to Salman Butt, OUT: fuller this time and on the off, the ball swings late and Butt plays at it tentatively. The ball takes the edge and goes towards slip. Rahul Dravid dives low and takes a sharp catch!
India have got off to the best possible start! Pakistan have lost their first wicket without a single run on the board! Rahul Dravid will already be breathing easier about his decision to field first. That is a great start for India in this decisive Test match. Younis Khan is the new batsman.
0.5Pathan to Younis Khan, OUT: full and on the stumps, this one swings in very late, that is a perfectly pitched delivery and it nails Younis lbw right in front of the stumps! India are on fire!
Pakistan in dire straits here at two wickets down without a run on the board. What a start for the Indian team and Irfan Pathan, who is on a hat-trick! Just a bit more for the bowlers and what a difference it makes! Mohammad Yousuf is facing the hat-trick ball. Three slips and two gullies in place
0.6 Pathan to Mohammad Yousuf, OUT: Got him! Sensational stuff at the National Stadium! Mohammad Yousuf bowled through the gate by a pearl of an inswinger! That one came in superbly after pitching outside off stump and shattered the stumps!