Wasn't this too Mankad's Test?

Cricket history tells us about an India–England Test as 'Mankad’s Test,'where Vinoo Mankad hit a hundred and took five wickets in an innings and bowled a marathon spell. This was at Lord’s in 1952-53 series. India, though, lost the match. Mankad’s 8-55 and 4-53 at Madras in 1951-52 against England was as much 'Mankad’s Test' to my mind as it resulted in an Indian win – first ever against England.

But how about the performance in October, 1952 at Ferozshah Kotla when he took 13 for 131 in India’s first-ever Test against Pakistan that took India to an innings win inside four days?

The first Test series between the arch-rivals was held in India. All Tests were of four-day duration. Lala Amarnath and Abdul Hafeez Kardar, who were once contemporaries and compatriots in the undivided India’s team, were the rival captains. Winning the toss, India batted first and opened with Mankad and Pankaj Roy (who were, four years later, to be associated in a 413-run 1st wicket partnership against New Zealand).

They found the pace and fury of Khan Mohammad tough to handle. Roy (7) was bowled as was Mankad (11). Vijay Hazare and Vijay Manjrekar steadied the innings through a 51-run partnership but the loss of Manjrekar (23) and Amarnath (9) followed by Polly Umrigar (25) meant India were in deep trouble – half the team out with only 110 on the board. Baroda teammates Hazare and Gul Mohammad shared a 70-run partnership battling the wiles of their state and India teammate Amir Elahi, now playing for Pakistan (Elahi is one of only 14 Test players who have represented two countries in Test cricket. He played one Test for India against Australia in 1947 and five Tests for Pakistan).

Hazare fell to Elahi when on 76. What a coincidence that former teammates were battling against each other and what a remarkable quirk of fate that even Gul Mohammad would become one of those 14 players to have represented two countries as his last appearance in Test cricket was for Pakistan against Australia in 1956! He too became an Elahi victim after making 24 and India ended the day 217 for seven with Hemu Adhikari on 12 and Ramchand on 9.

It had been a satisfying first day for Pakistan and they were hoping for a quick finish to the Indian innings. Adhikari lost the company of Ramchand (13) early but first with the wicket-keeper P Sen (25) and then in a record 10th wicket partnership of 109 runs with off-spinner Ghulam Ahmed (50), Adhikari (81 not out) took India to 372, Elahi (4-134) being the most successful bowler with his leg-spinners.

Pakistan started well through Nazar Mohammad (father of Mudassar Nazar) and the young prodigy Hanif Mohammad. The Pakistani openers did not face any problems facing Ramchand and Amarnath's medium-pace and put on 64 on the board before Nazar was run out for 27. The loss of this wicket and the introduction of Mankad changed the complexion of the game.

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