#OTD in 1999: When Anil Kumble cleaned up Pakistan with a perfect ten


image-ldtz3zgrAnil Kumble created history on this day in 1999 (Source: Twitter)

On this day, twenty-four years ago, the charismatic Indian spinner Anil Kumble took all ten wickets in an inning against Pakistan in Delhi. With this performance, he became only the second cricketer after Jim Laker to dismiss all the opposition batters in a Test innings. 


India gain a sizeable lead in 1st innings

Batting first, India got off to a strong start with the openers Sadagoppan Ramesh (60) and VVS Laxman (35). Coming at three, Rahul Dravid contributed 33 as well. However, Sachin Tendulkar (6) and Sourav Ganguly (13) did not trouble the scores enough. 

It took the fighting innings of 67 off 134 from Mohammad Azharuddin to help India post a competitive total of 252 on the board. Saqlain Mushtaq picked a five-for for the visitors. 

In reply, Pakistan could not be potent enough with their performances, and was all-out for 172, with the top contribution from Saleem Malik (31). Kumble was the pick of the bowlers for the hosts with four scalps. 


Jumbo creates history

In the second innings, India slammed 339 with Ramesh (96) and Ganguly (62*) as the key contributors. 

Chasing 420, Pakistan were off to a dashing start as the opening duo of Saeed Anwar and Shahid Afridi piled up a century stand. However, a flipper from Kumble induced the edge from Afridi (41) resulting in ending 101-run stand. 

Kumble continued the momentum by taking quick wickets of Ijaz Ahmed (0), Inzamam-ul-Haq (6) and Mohammed Yousuf (0), which broke the back of Pakistan line-up. 

Although Anwar (69) tried well, he along with rest of the batters fell to the brilliance of Kumble resulting in them getting dismissed for 207 and losing the game by 212 runs. 

Kumble finished with figures of 10/74 in the second innings, and was named Player of the Match. The two-match series ended with a scoreline of 1-1. 


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