Seam and Asim

At the end of the day it was a gamble worth taking as support seamer Laxmipathy Balaji, picked ahead of spinner Harbhajan Singh in the playing XI, returned career-best figures of 76-5. Hard to believe, in fact, that this was Balaji8217;s first international match in six months and he showed few signs of the injury that had kept him out.

In a welcome departure from spinners hogging the limelight on Indian pitches, the seam trio bowled patiently and picked up eight wickets among them to bowl Pakistan out for 312 on a track that hardened and settled as the day wore on.

And though Pakistan managed to cross the 300-run mark after tottering at 104-4 at one stage, the Indian think-tank would like to believe that there is little reason for panic.

On a wicket that is playing beautifully with the ball coming onto the bat, it is now up to the Indian batsmen to repay their bowlers8217; efforts and bat Pakistan out of the game over the next two days.

Though 312 is not a safe total on this wicket, Pakistan would want to bank on the good showing of the pace attack in Australia to break through the Indian top order.

After the moisture vaporised 90 minutes from start of play, the ball came onto the bat easily making for comfortable stroke play but Pakistan had lost one wicket too many 8212; openers Salman Butt, Taufiq Umar and vice-captain Younis Khan were gone before lunch.

Irfan Pathan appeared rusty after a long lay-off but made Yousuf Youhana appear hunted 8212; and haunted 8212; at the crease before finding his edge. That left Inzamam fighting a lone battle.

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The arrival of Kamal to the wicket stabilised things for the tourists. With Inzamam comfortable at one end, Kamal at the other end batted industriously with his deft touches and well-placed singles. All the bowlers could do was stay patient.

That paid off when leggie Anil Kumble trapped Inzamam in front and at 156-5 with half the quota of overs yet to be bowled, it seemed the match was a goner for Pakistan.

But there is a resoluteness to this Pakistan team that was missing for much of the series last year. Kamal led the way, digging in deep to carve a knock under pressure with half the side back in the pavilion. He also offered further proof that a specialist batsman is always a better bet than an all-rounder at the crucial number six position.

Batting with a calm beyond the number of Test innings that he has played, Kamal got Pakistan closer to the 300-run mark. And surely he earned the sympathy of all when he missed out on his maiden Test century for the third time after Balaji bowled him nine short of the hundred-mark.

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Pakistan8217;s lack of match practise and fragile middle order was thoroughly exposed by the Indian seamers. They probably will not appreciate it now but there was an irony in their chaotic innings, coming as it did in India8217;s best-planned city.

Tomorrow, the hosts must ensure they don8217;t go the same way.

FIRST SESSION
O-25, R-91, W-3
India strike early through Irfan and Zaheer, justifying Ganguly8217;s decision to bowl first

SECOND SESSION
O-26, R-100, W-3
Inzamam stabilises the innings. When he falls, Asim Kamal takes charge. India show signs of frustration

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THIRD SESSION
O-35.4, R-121, W-4
The Indian despair keeps growing as Kamal, along with the tail, stretches the Pakistan total beyond 300, though Balaji8217;s late strikes pull them back

Prime Number
233 The number of minutes Asim Kamal batted during his knock of 91 to help Pakistan out of a difficult position. Walking in at 104-4, Kamal held the innings together and kept the Indians at bay. By the end of an eventful day, his old-fashioned, dogged approach to batting had made it honours even

Spell Check
Lakshmipathy Balaji
O-3.4, M-0, R-18, W-3
Of the three spells that Lakshmipathy Balaji bowled in his first Test for almost a year, the third one was the most productive. Balaji initially struggled for rhythm but settled down immediately after the second new ball was claimed. The first victim was Mohammad Sami, clean bowled by a ball that just pitched in line and straightened. Four overs later an unlucky Kamal saw the ball hit the stumps after just gently brushing his pad. Balaji was now on the verge of his first five-for haul and in his very next over trapped Rana Naved Ul Hasan to wrap up the day in fine style

REPORT CARD

	nbsp;	SOURAV Little he could do wrong, beginning with a rare win of the toss. Put the opposition in on a wicket with enough juice for his seamers to make the most of. His bowling changes 8212; 10 in all 8212; were spot on and it seemed that all his bowlers had bought into his game plan. 8226; When Anil Kumble was smacked around in his opening spell, it lasted just two overs. He was brought on after Inzamam reached his half century and it paid off immediately, Kumble picking up Inzi8217;s wicket yet again. 8226; The second new ball was tossed to Balaji who promptly picked up three wickets, including Asim Kamal 8212; and wrapped up the Pakistan innings 8226; When his bowlers tired he took the pressure off them by bowling himself and Virender Sehwag briefly 8226; No sign of panic, not through Inzamam8217;s partnership with Asim Kamal, nor even when Abdul Razzaq went after the bowling before tea RATING: A INZAMAM With in-form Salman Butt and vice-captain Younis Khan out early, it was up to the skipper to get the innings back in order. But if there was any pressure on Inzi it didn8217;t show as he batted with utmost ease, an example of how a bit of patience and proper shot-selection could salvage an innings. His 57 is by no means among his finest but it set up a base from where Asim Kamal picked up and helped take the Pakistan score past the 300-run mark RATING: A	nbsp;

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Seam and Asim

At the end of the day it was a gamble worth taking as support seamer Laxmipathy Balaji, picked ahead of spinner Harbhajan Singh in the playi...