Dinesh Karthik, Wasim Jaffer, Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar were India’s top four when they achieved this rare feat for the first time. Karthik scored his first Test century and finished with 129, Jaffer retired ill at 138, captain Dravid scored 129 as well and Tendulkar was unbeaten on 122.
After a combination of rain and wet grounds had forced the first Test between India and Bangladesh in the two-match series in 2007 to a draw, these hundreds put India on their way to victory in the match and the series.
After declaring their innings at 610 for three, India bundled out Bangladesh for 118 and 253 in their two innings to win the match by an innings and 239 runs.
Pakistan’s feat is unique due to the fact that this is the first time the top four batsmen of a side have scored centuries in the second innings of the same match.
The two-Test series between Pakistan and Sri Lanka in December 2019 marked the return of Test cricket to Pakistan for the first time since 2009. Like in the Bangladesh-India series of 2007, the first Test between Pakistan and Sri Lanka too ended in a draw owing to rains and wet conditions. Pakistan won the second Test and the series on the back of centuries from their top four in the second innings.
After bundling out Pakistan for 191, Sri Lanka took an 80-run first innings lead with a score of 271. But Pakistan’s top four ensured that they scored 555 for three declared in the second innings, paving the way for their 263-run victory as the Lankans were bowled out for 212.
Picture Credit : Google