Pakistan were 68 runs ahead and in the driver's seat at close of play on Day 2 in the second Test against India.
An unfinished 150-run partnership between Inzamam-ul Haq (118) and Yousuf Youhana (62), and opener Imran Farhat's (101) second Test century, enabled the hosts end the day on a commanding 355 for three wickets in the first innings.
But that position of strength was, to a certain extent, due some bad decisions from both umpires, as Pakistan were lucky not to lose a single wicket in the final session.
India had scored 287 in their first innings
Morning session (29 overs - 84 runs, 1 wicket)
In recent times, the Indian bowling attack has been depleted by injuries to key bowlers. But in these times, young rookies Irfan Pathan and Lakshmipathy Balaji carried the attack. Their skipper, Sourav Ganguly, provided them with attacking fields and they made the most of their opportunity.
But Dravid's tactics on the second day of the second Test left a lot to be desired. On a pitch that was now perfect for batting, Pathan was getting the ball to swing into right-hander Yasir Hameed. Logic would have dictated that the Indians should have encouraged Hameed to drive through the covers and thus hope to exploit the gap between bat and pad. Instead, the off-side field was stacked with seven fielders.
A 7-2 field works -- as the Australian's have proved -- but only if the bowler is Glenn McGrath. It also takes away the option for the bowler to stick to a wicket-to-wicket line.
India kept the runs down to a minimum because of their line outside the stumps, but throughout the morning session the Pakistan openers, Imran Farhat and Hameed, were never troubled.
India needed to attack and, ironically, to achieve their purpose the Pakistan batsmen would have to lay bat on ball more often. Temptation, in India's case at least, held the key to success and a wicket.
The pitch was at its best for batting -- the moisture had all drained out in the 35 degrees C. The odd ball was starting to keep low but there were too few in between to make a difference at this stage. On the fourth and fifth day, this pitch will be dynamite.
The Pakistan batsmen were looking to see off the first half safely, and with Balaji and Pathan making no impression, Dravid looked to do something different when he handed the ball to Ajit Agarkar.
As in the first Test, Dravid's bowling change was right on the mark. Agarkar struck off the second ball of his first over. The widish delivery moved a little in the air, but tempted Hameed into playing a rash stroke. The extravagant shot resulted in an edge that flew straight to Rahul Dravid, at first slip, who made no mistake. (95-2)
The Pakistan scoring rate had been slow, more in tune with an earlier era of Test cricket rather than the rampaging times prevalent now. The first fifty came off 115 balls and the second of the innings off 112 balls.
The arrival of Pakistan skipper Inzamam-ul Haq was expected to change that. Farhat reached his fifty with a top-edged four to fine leg which could have very easily gone to the fielder.
Pathan, as has become the norm, started his spell with a bouncer yet again. Farhat took up the challenge, went for the hook but was lucky to survive.
Inzamam's presence at the other end was a comforting factor for the young Farhat, who finally started to play a few spanking drives through the covers.
Anil Kumble bowled the first over of the day in a bid to get the fast bowlers to change ends. He then waited 20 overs before getting a chance to have a go at the batsmen.
It was a double change by Dravid when Tendulkar was introduced to join Kumble in the attack. It was also a sign of how comfortable the Pakistanis were looking at the wicket.
Both Farhat and Inzamam stood firm till lunch was called. Dravid will most probably continue to attack with Kumble at one end
Pakistan scored 84 runs in the 29-over session to reach 145 for the loss of two wickets at the break.
Post-Lunch session (30 overs - 120 runs, 1 wicket)
34 runs came in the first seven overs after lunch as Pakistan started to make their charge. Pathan was starting to tire and Kumble was under the gun. Farhat drove him through the covers time and again and Inzamam too was no longer content in holding back.
The 100-run partnership between the two came off 153 balls and the longer it went on the more the Indians seemed resigned to their fate. They tried hard and no one can take that away from them.
Dravid was running out of options, and as the Pakistanis were starting to assault the Indian bowling one got the feeling India needed not just a breakthrough but at least a couple to get back into the game.
Imran Farhat reached his second Test century, exactly half the Pakistan total of 200 at that stage. Certainly, a valuable knock for the team. The hosts needed somebody to step up and accept the responsibility of guiding Pakistan to a series-levelling victory.
Farhat, normally an attacking player, curbed his instincts and settled down to play a long innings. That is perhaps the greatest tribute one can pay him. His willingness to change his game for the sake of the team was truly commendable. Even the greatest of cricketers tend to lose the plot under pressure, but exactly the opposite also holds true. If you relax too much and your concentration wavers for even a millisecond it might cost you your wicket.
That's exactly what happened with Farhat (101 off 294 balls). He relaxed after reaching his century and reached out to drive Balaji through the covers and quite literally threw his wicket away. (205-3)
The partnership of 110 had guided Pakistan to a position of strength and it is now up to Inzamam and Youhana to make the most of the situation for the hosts.
The Indian bowlers bowled to their field but the Pakistanis were determined to stay at the wicket at all costs. Their mental make-up has been much better in this Test and they can all owe it to 19-year-old Umar Gul's bowling during India's first innings.
India took the new ball as soon as it was available after 80 overs. But the Pakistan batsmen played out the overs without any trouble.
At tea, Pakistan were 265 for the loss of two wickets.
Post-Tea session (31 overs -- 90 runs)
The new ball was expected to get India a few quick wickets and back into the reckoning. But Inzamam and Youhana stood firm. They were aided in no small measure by the umpires.
As well as the Pakistani batsmen batted, they needed huge slices of luck throughout the session to survive in the middle.
Yousuf Youhana, on 35, survived a plumb leg-before appeal off Pathan. The ball swung back sharply after pitching in-line with the off stump, hit the pad in front of the stumps but the umpire ruled otherwise.
In between all the hits and misses, Inzamam batted with determination and purpose. His goals were clear; he wanted to be there at the end of the day. And if there is one batsman in the Pakistan line-up who can virtually toy with the Indian attack, it is him.
His was a side that was down and out after the first Test and it was of paramount importance that he showed his wards how you have to play in the middle. He waited, scored only 20 off the first 60 balls, and when the opportunity presented itself unleashed his shots with power and precision.
With the Pakistan total on 285, there was a major mix-up between Inzamam and Youhana. The latter was lucky to survive when Yuvraj's throw missed at the bowler's end. He had taken a few steps down the wicket when Inzamam set off. Another close shave for Pakistan, but all that mattered was that both batsmen were still there at the wicket.
Youhana hit a few good shots of his own but he never really looked settled. Certainly nowhere as comfortable as Inzamam at the other end.
Another clear appeal fell on deaf ears in the 98th over of the innings when Parthiv Patel held on to a thick edge off Kumble. But the umpire ruled in Pakistan's favour once again. To say that the Indians were disappointed would be the understatement of the year.
The frustration boiled when Kumble fielded the ball hard and fast straight over Inzamam's head into the wicket-keeper's gloves at the end of the next over. The Pakistan skipper was in his crease at the moment and was a little distressed by Kumble's action. He decided to have a word with the bowler but Kumble was in no mood to listen.
It seemed like Inzamam was just asking Kumble to keep his cool but when so many decisions have gone against you it is hard to see reason.
Dravid stood by his bowler while Tendulkar tried to sort matters by asking both to cool down.
The bowlers stuck to a disciplined line and length throughout the day but the batsmen were upto task. They patiently waited for the loose ball and when it did arrive they did not miss. Balaji and Pathan both bowled with fire and there were a number of decisions that could have India's way. But lady luck had abandoned.
Inzamam reached his first ton against India with his 12th boundary. A well-deserved ton for the Pakistani maestro, who now has centuries against all Test playing nations with the exception of South Africa.
At the end of day, Pakistan were completely in the driver's seat and it would require a very special effort from the Indians to save this Test. In the last three years, India have invariably ended up losing the Test immediately after winning one. Something's never change or do they? Only the next three days will give us the answer.
Pakistan scored 294 runs in the day and were 68 runs ahead of India when stumps were called. Scoring was restricted largely due to the discipline of the Indian bowlers
