KOLKATA, Dec 4: Pakistan coach Geoff Lawson described the draw in the second Test here at the Eden Gardens on Wednesday as a ‘huge result’ for his team and believed the result could lift the morale in the tourists’ camp.

“Indeed, this is a big result for us today and one that certainly lifts our morale tremendously,” Lawson told a press conference shortly after Younis Khan guided Pakistan to safety with an unblemished 109.

However, the Australian disagrees that the final result here has given Pakistan any advantage ahead of the third Test, starting at Bangalore from Saturday.

“I don’t think we have the advantage because they [India] are 1-0 up and that is a big plus point for us. We are feeling that in the last Test we can achieve something as Pakistan have done in the previous series in India.

“They (Pakistan) won in Bangalore last time to level the series. That is the belief in the dressing room because we had the courage and character to save this match,” added Lawson.

He praised the resilience of his side.“I think character is exactly the right word. For much time on the third day in this Test we were in all sorts of trouble and the character of two batsmen [Misbah-ul-Haq and Kamran Akmal] showed. And then again today there were a few nerves as we lost a few wickets in quick time but we again showed a lot of character.

“When you escape from games like that you learn a lot and you gain a lot, mentally in particular. Hats off to Younis for that wonderful century,” Lawson said.

He added that Pakistan did at one point think of going after the target.

“In the last 15 overs we only needed 11 an over to win. So I did actually mention it in the dressing room. I thought Younis must be thinking the same thing. Yes, I did think about it but in the end we opted to play for time.”

Indian captain Anil Kumble, meanwhile, expressed his great disappointment at not being able to seal the series here.

“Had we taken our chances in the first innings that we probably should have taken, the result might have been different,” said Kumble. “On these kinds of surfaces, where you know it’s tough to get wickets, half chances matter. Overall catching is something we need to improve on. We wanted to finish the series here and had a great opportunity.

“But we go to Bangalore 1-0 up and we’re looking forward to a 2-0 series victory. We would have liked to make it 2-0 here but you have to give it to Pakistan for the way they batted, Misbah and Kamran in the first innings and Younis and Yousuf in the second.”