THE day went for Pakistan exactly the way its supporters would have wanted it. 355 for three, a lead of 68 and seven wickets in hand. But the supporters got much more than that. They got a team that has re-invented itself led by the captain himself.
Inzamamul Haq has scored his first Test hundred as captain. It has been no ordinary hundred. It has been an innings of character. There was a determination about it that went beyond resolve.
It was a heroic innings, as if, he had something to prove to himself, a sort of self-examination. He played out the last over of the day and only then was he able to remove the fierce scowl he had carried all day.
No one can say that Imran Farhat played a lesser role. His was a brilliant century studded by shots that were dazzling and his cover-driving almost had a musical beat to it. He was involved in a 110-run partnership with Inzamam. He got to his hundred and his exuberance got to him.
Imran would have kicked himself or someone should have kicked him for playing such a loose shot that got him out. He should have taken fresh guard, put the century behind him, and started a fresh innings. But youth is a curable disease.
Yousuf Youhana has stuck it out, starting as if he was carrying on from Multan and then losing his touch but he and Inzamam have put on 150 runs. Youhana is among the runs but he seemed to be out of rhythm and this has not been a fluent innings. The magic may return once he has sorted out what made him go off the boil.
Yasir Hameed is undergoing some sort of crisis of confidence. He had made 91 at Multan and in the second innings had got out playing a rash shot. Here again he chased an outswinging half-volley got nowhere with his foot-work and was caught behind. He is too good a batsman to be playing so carelessly. He needs to tighten his game.
It was not India's finest hour in the field. It was certainly a frustrating day and the wickets were not falling as, perhaps, they thought they would. There was a noisy chorus of appeals, some worth shouting for and some for the sheer hell of it.
The fielders needed to keep their cool and Anil Kumble, of all persons, should have remained calm. He was India's most dangerous bowler. There was a rush of blood and he had a temper-tantrum. I don't want to labour the point and these things happen on the spur of the moment.
Nothing pleased me more than to see him and Inzamam put their arms around one another at close of play. The angry moment had passed and all sorrows forgotten.
There were more people on the ground than there were on the first day. But this Test match deserves a full house. Considering that the PCB is going to make a huge amount of money from this tour, they could resort to what many political parties do. They could rent a crowd.
But more seriously, one would like to know why the crowds have stayed away. Is it television? But India gets full houses for its Test matches and there is full television coverage. The PCB should take it up as a marketing challenge.
Pakistan is in a strong position but not yet a winning position. Pakistan needs to chalk out its strategy. Pakistan needs a sizeable lead, the sort that will create its own pressure. The partnership between Inzamam and Youhana should carry on for as long as possible.
Pakistan should try and bat through the day on Wednesday. There isn't too much real batting to come but there is enough to be thinking of getting into a winning position. The wicket still looks good for bating but there were a few signs of variable bounce.
But it will be now up to the bowlers. One hopes that Umar Gul is restored to full fitness but it will be the main strike bowlers, Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Sami who will have to put up their hand. There will have been more fire in their bellies but sheer pace will not be enough. They will have to bowl with their heads as well as their hearts, Danish Kaneria will come into the reckoning as well.
The batsmen have all but delivered. Though they will need to make more runs. It will then come down to the bowlers. They will have to show their mettle. And it goes without saying that the fielding will have to be sharp.
There is a real chance for Pakistan to come back in the series and the chance must be grabbed with both hands. It has been an outstanding performance so far. Pakistan just needs to carry on.
