08 April 2004	Thursday	17 Safar 1425

I HAVE written and re-written the lead paragraph of this report in my mind and just when I though I had it right, Yousuf Youhana made a horrible mess of a possible chance that would have seen the back of Virender Sehwag. That it was in the closing stages of the day's play and the bowler was Mohammad Sami made the lapse almost cruel.

Sami had put in a wholehearted effort and called up all his all his energy resources was entitled to feel more than disappointed. This would have been a more positive report for the Test match would have swung Pakistan's way.

Pakistan is still in a good position and India trails by 53 runs and has lost five key wickets but Sehwag is still there, 86 in India's score of 149 and with Parthiv Patel has put on 44 defiant runs. Much will depend on the intensity the Pakistan can bring to the first session.

Shoaib Akhtar and Sami did come to the party and Inzamam handled them with imagination though the ball of the day was the one that bowled Laxman and Umar Gul produced it like a magician pulling a rabbit out of a hat, a sharp leg-cutter or leg-break that sent the off-stump cart wheeling.

Though the moment of the day and it may prove to be the turning point of this Test match was the run out of Rahul Dravid by Imran Farhat, a dead-eye direct hit.

The fortunes of this Test match have fluctuated wildly. There has been a rout, rally, rout and rally. India was staring down the barrel of a gun when play began with Pakistan on 355 for three. In what seemed like double quick time Pakistan was 386 for seven.

Inzamam was trapped leg-before off the first ball he faced and was soon followed by Youhana, Kamran Akmal and Sami. Then came the rally. Asim Kamal found stout allies in Shoaib and Umar Gul and he himself started to play like a batsman transformed. He was in the team to shore up the middle order. He batted with such maturity and elegance and authority that it sent many of us wondering where he has been all this time?

In his debut Test innings against South Africa he had made 99, taken on to the tour to New Zealand and not played. Full marks to the selection committee that it had a long memory and brought him back. But for injuries, he might not have played at Lahore but it's going to be damn hard to drop him again.

Pakistan managed a 202-run lead. We had expected more but in the circumstances of some excellent bowling, it represented a revival. A lead of any size represents pressure on the opponents and it was good to see the Pakistan attack firing on all cylinders.

Shoaib trapped Akash Chopra leg-before and Dravid was run out and the score was 15. Suddenly the possibility loomed of India being bowled out and this became brighter when Sachin Tendulkar was out. But through all these dramatic happenings stood Sehwag.

The main thing from India's point of view was that he did not change his game, he remained on the prowl for loose deliveries and put them away effortlessly. I was surprised that the Pakistan bowlers did not bounce to him. Shoaib did, going round the wicket and Sehwag looked uncomfortable. But it was late in the day. And Shoaib was running out of steam.

In the end, the third day too belonged to Pakistan on balance. Much will depend on how quickly Pakistan can get Sehwag out. We did not see too much of Danish Kaneria.

He has bowled only three overs. He wasn't really needed but could have been used to give some rest to the fast bowlers. It could have also changed the rhythm of the attack and might have induced an error from Sehwag.

It was a warm and energy-sapping day and the Pakistan fielding showed it. It should have been sharp all the time. I admit it's better said than done but it goes to the fitness of the players. Every run was precious and quite a few were given away through slackness.

At this level of cricket and in such a pressure-cooker situation, Inzamam was entitled to ask his fielders to remain alert. Perhaps, it was one's imagination but the concentration seemed to go wandering.

But none of this should take away anything from what has been a champion performance so far. India is not going to give it away and there's still a fair amount of batting to come. Pakistan's job is far from done. Pakistan must remain focused and relentless in attack. A Pakistan win will set up this series as, perhaps, the best between the two countries and just the sort of advertisement that Test cricket needs.