Dogged centuries from Misbah-ul-Haq and Kamran Akmal helped Pakistan stage a resolute fightback on day three of the second Test in Kolkata on Sunday.
Akmal scored a magnificent 119, while Misbah remained unbeaten on 108 as Pakistan reached 358 for 6 in 104 overs at close on the third day. They still need another 59 runs to avoid the follow-on.
The Misbah-Akmal combo thwarted the Indian bowlers for nearly two sessions during their 207-run partnership for the sixth wicket to bring back Pakistan from the brink.
Pakistan were reeling at 150 for 5 in the morning session after Harbhajan Singh claimed two quick wickets, that of Salman Butt (42) and Mohammad Yousuf (6). He finished the day with figures of 3 for 86, while Anil Kumble claimed 2 for 81.
The visitors still trail India's first innings score of 616 for 5 declared by 258 runs.
Post tea session:
Pakistan started with a flurry of boundaries in the post tea session with Kumble opting to keep Tendulkar bowling. But Tendulkar could only bowl two overs before he was taken off after giving away 16 runs.
Kumble then introduced part-timer Sourav Ganguly and the decision was received with a huge cheer from the Eden Gardens crowd. He did manage to make things as he once got the edge which flew past the first slip fielder, while beating the bat a couple of times in his first over.
India took the new ball in the 82nd over as the conditions became a bit overcast. Akmal smashed Munaf to the point boundary to move to 87 and overtake Misbah, who was batting on 84.
Akmal (87) got a lucky break in Zaheer's next over when his top-edged hook shot was dropped by Munaf, who was slow to react to the shot. Zaheer had tempted the batsman into making a mistake but Munaf's sloppy fielding put paid to his efforts.
A leg boundary by Akmal off Zaheer in the 87th over brought up Pakistan's 300 with both batsmen unbeaten on 88. With 117 more runs needed to avoid the follow on, the task seemed much easier at the moment than it was a couple of sessions back.
However, Akmal was the first to get to his century as he lashed a few quick boundaries. He brought up the hundred with a powerful cut shot for a boundary through point in the 90th over off Munaf. Akmal's fourth century against India took 173 deliveries and included 16 boundaries.
In Munaf's next over, Akmal made the pacer suffer again when he hit two successive boundaries through cover as Pakistan reached 325 for 5 after 92 overs.
Misbah took his time but eventually completed his century with a neat flick for a boundary off Kumble in the 98th over. His maiden century in Tests took 181 deliveries and included nine boundaries and had given Pakistan real hopes of salvaging a draw atleast.
Akmal and Misbah's partnership also revoked memories of the VVS Laxman-Rahul Dravid against Australia at this venue in 2001. The two batsmen's efforts had carried India from the jaws of defeat to a miraculous victory over the Aussies, but that possibility seemed unlikely on this dead pitch.
Akmal posted the 200-run partnership with Misbah for the sixth wicket with a single of Harbhajan in the 101st over of innings. The silence of the fans in the stadium said the whole story as the Indian bowlers failed to make any sort of impression on this wicket.
However, they got back to life again when Harbhajan struck with the important wicket of Akmal. The right-hander tried to drive through the off-side but was beaten to be bowled for 119. Akmal hit 20 boundaries in his 210-ball knock, adding 207 runs in 62.1 overs for the sixth wicket with Misbah.
Once again bad light ended play early with Pakistan reaching 358 for 6 in 104 overs at close on the third day. Misbah was unbeaten on a fine knock of 108 in 204 deliveries, inclusive of 10 boundaries to keep Pakistan afloat.
Though Misbah and Akmal batted with great determination for nearly two sessions, India would be delighted to get the wicket so late in the day. They would now hope to clean up the Pakistan lower order rather quickly and try to make a match out of it.
Both Akmal and Misbah deserve special for this stupendous and even the Kolkata fans made their delight clear by giving them a huge cheer as they walked back. It turned out to be a frustrating day for the Indian bowlers as they got only a single wicket in the last two sessions.
Harbhajan emerged as the most successful bowler, claiming 3 for 86 in 31.4 overs. Kumble toiled hard throughout the day to finish with figures of 2 for 81 in 27 overs.
Pakistan, who trail India's first innings score by 258 runs, still need another 59 runs to avoid the follow-on.
With the pitch still not offering any help to the bowlers, a draw looks the most likely result. But India still have a big chance of ending up on the winning side, but for that they will need to a much improved showing with the ball.
