January 31, 2006	Tuesday	Muharram 1, 1427

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KARACHI, Jan 30: Pakistan secured a psychological first-innings lead of seven runs and were better-placed on day two of the third and final Test against India at the National Stadium on Monday.

After the “Sensational Sunday” when 14 wickets stumbled for 319 runs in 76.1 overs, the second day comparatively turned out to be rather unexciting for a crowd of around 10,000 who witnessed eight wickets falling for 337 runs in 77.1 overs.

After India had been all out for 238 in reply to Pakistan’s 245, the hosts closed at 173 for two in the second innings with skipper Younis Khan (25) and Mohammad Yousuf (30) extending the overall lead to 180.

With three full days still left in the series-decider, the game is wide open and neither side can claim they are in the ascendancy just yet as the pitch is gradually easing out.

Both Younis and Yousuf, the second and third victims of Irfan Pathan’s incredible hat trick on Sunday, sorted out the bowlers comfortably and reached notable milestones during the unbroken third-wicket stand that has realized 51 runs thus far.

Yousuf became only the fifth Pakistani after Javed Miandad, Inzamamul Haq, Saleem Malik and Zaheer Abbas to gain the membership of the 5,000-run club when his score was 22.

Younis, on the other hand, probably completed the fastest first 1,000 against a specific country in Test cricket.

The 28-year-old’s 16th run took him to the magic figure against India in mere six Tests and 10 innings.

Significantly, the day also marked Pakistan’s first opening century partnership for 21 innings as Salman Butt (53 off 74 balls, 10 fours) and Imran Farhat (57 off 87 balls, 10 fours) launched the second innings on a rousing note.

The two young left-handers found no terror in the Indian bowling and made hay while the sun shone during a 146-ball stand of 109 at more than run-a-minute before they were separated by Saurav Ganguly’s gentle inswinger which accounted for Salman.

Imran not curbed his passion for aggression and top-edged a pull off Pathan to Sachin Tendulkar, who later escaped a serious injury after colliding with Yousuf while trying to run out the batsman.

The last time a Pakistan Innings featured a three-figure plus first-wicket partnership was when Salman and Yasir Hameed added 102 in the first innings of the Sydney Test against world champions Australia on Jan 2, 2005.

Earlier, Mohammad Asif and Abdul Razzaq were chiefly responsible for giving Pakistan the slight edge with seven wickets between them.

But Pakistan should have finished the day in a more advantageous position had their fielding been razor-sharp.

No less than four catches were put down during the Indian innings and the man to benefit most was Pathan.

The all-rounder was reprieved first-ball by Younis at second slip off Razzaq, who had seen Kamran Akmal failing in his bid to catch Anil Kumble down the leg-side a ball earlier in the same over.

Razzaq suffered again when Asif, fielding at deep point, dropped Pathan on six.

Towards the end, Zaheer Khan was given a ‘life’ by Shoaib Akhtar off Asif, who was amply rewarded for bowling to one side of the wicket.

The 23-year-old Sheikhupura-born paceman took two more wickets following scalped Rahul Dravid and Vangipurappu Laxman on Sunday to end up with career-best analysis of four for 78.

Resuming at 74 for four, India added another 61 before Razzaq answered Pakistan’s prayers when he prompted Ganguly to hook down Asif’s throat at long leg soon after the morning drinks break.

An infuriated Ganguly walked off the field, having partnered fellow left-hander Yuvraj in a stand worth 81 off 106 balls.

The former Indian captain, who was overtly desperate to play a long innings after failing to make the squad on Sunday for the impeding Pakistan ODI series, made just 34.

Yuvraj timed the ball sweetly in striking eight boundaries on his way a 74-ball 45, the highest individual score in the innings.

The Indians at that stage were hoping for a repeat of Faisalabad heroics from Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Pathan.

A reckless flash outside the stump sent the Pakistanis into ecstasy.

Pathan stood his ground while making 40 off 51 balls as the last two wickets helped increase the score by 58 runs, 57 of them coming through the efforts of Pathan and Zaheer.

Pathan had the honour of hitting the solitary six in the India innings, off Shoaib before Shahid Afridi lured him to loft one into Yousuf’s lap at long-on.

Shoaib was wayward despite bowling at sharp pace, but repeatedly resorted to bowling too short and wide.

And Kumble became his second victim; Shoaib went for 70 runs in 16 overs.

Razzaq, who bowled unchanged for 12 overs on either side of lunch, claimed three for 67 in 16 overs as the ball swung rather than seamed.

A total of 21 overs have been lost through slow over-rate of both teams.

Scoreboard

Pakistan (1st innings): 245 (Kamran Akmal 113; Irfan Pathan 5-61)

India (1st innings) (overnight 74-4):

V. Laxman b Asif 19

R. Dravid c Akmal b Asif 3

V. Sehwag c Akmal b Akhtar 5

S. Tendulkar b Razzaq 23

S. Ganguly c Asif b Razzaq 34

Y. Singh lbw b Asif 45

M. Dhoni c Akmal b Razzaq 13

Irfan Pathan c Yousuf b Afridi 40

A. Kumble lbw b Akhtar 7

Zaheer Khan c Akmal b Asif 21

R. Singh not out 0

Extras: (b8, lb3, nb17) 28

Total: (54.1 overs) 238

Fall of wkts: 1-9, 2-14, 3-56, 4-56, 5-137, 6-165, 7-165, 8-181, 9-237

Bowling: Akhtar 16-3-70-2, Asif 19.1-1-78-4, Razzaq 16-3-67-3, Afridi 3-0-12-1

Pakistan (2nd innings):

Salman Butt lbw b Ganguly 53

Imran Farhat c Tendulkar b Pathan 57

Younis Khan not out 25

Mohammad Yousuf not out 30

Extras: (b2, lb3, nb3) 8

Total: (for two wickets 39 overs) 173

Fall of wkts: 1-109, 2-122

Bowling: Pathan 10-1-39-1, Zaheer 10-1-44-0, Singh 8-0-38-0, Kumble 5-0-25-0, Ganguly 6-0-22-1

Umpires: Simon Taufel (AUS), Daryl Harper (AUS)

TV umpire: Asad Rauf (PAK)

Match Referee: Ranjan Madugalle (SRI)