RAWALPINDI, March 26: India bounced back from three goals down to edge Pakistan 10-9 and pull level 1-1 in the three-match SAF Challenge Cup at the Rawalpindi Polo Club.

The final match in the first leg of this series is to be played on Saturday with Pakistan crossing over to India for another three games next month. The home side, despite five goals from captain Shah Qubilai Alam, threw away the early advantage after they had raced to a 2- 0 lead at the start of play and then enhanced that in the second chukker.

But India staged a fine recovery with four strikes from Basheer Ali and three goals by captain Uday Kalan to seal what proved to be an engrossing match. Bahawani Singh was also a scorer, putting in two as was Ravi Rathore who chipped in with one.

The hosts started off well, Qubilai converting a 30-yard penalty early in the first chukker and Omar Minhas, showing great control, doubling it soon afterwards.

Pakistan, who had won the opening game 8-7, went further up with a spot hit from Qubilai in the second chukker before India pulled one back, Basheer firing in a beautiful goal from 30 yards.

His strike opened the floodgates and in an eventful third chukker, India scored five times, Uday and Bahawani netting two goals apiece and Bahawani banging home one to lead 6-3.

Their advantage was strengthened further by Basheer as soon the fourth chukker began before Pakistan got their act together through a brace each from Sami Ullah Raja and Qubilai to leave the match intriguingly poised at 7-8 with a chukker remaining.

It was then left to Qubilai to put the match on an even keel in the final chukker that also saw him miss a penalty. But soon India edged ahead through Uday who made the score 9-8 and quickly Basheer added the 10th. Shah Shamyl Alam narrowed the margin with a late goal.

Scorers: