Second Test: Misbah, Akmal keep Pak afloat

India let Pak off the hook after seizing the early initiative as Kamran and Misbah-ul Haq posted hundreds to boost hopes.

India let Pakistan off the hook after seizing the early initiative as Kamran Akmal and Misbah-ul Haq posted hundreds to boost the visitors’ hopes of avoiding the follow-on on the third day of the second cricket Test.

After gobbling up half of the touring side for 150 in the morning session, the Indians could not press home the advantage as Akmal (119) and Misbah (108 batting) steadied the rocking boat with a 207-run stand for the sixth wicket to enable their side reach a respectable 358 for six when bad light stopped play with two overs yet to be bowled. India had piled up 616 for five declared in their first innings.

However, Pakistan still need 59 runs to force India to bat again, and the morning session tomorrow could prove crucial in deciding the fate of the Eden Gardens match.

Story continues below this ad

Akmal, who relishes playing against India, and the in-form Misbah-ul Haq played patiently on the dry wicket to defy the Indian bowlers for 259 minutes, and in the process setting up a new record on the ground for the sixth wicket.

The earlier mark stood in the name of West Indies’ Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Marlon Samuels who authored a 195-run partnership in 2002-03.

The morning session belonged to the Indians as they picked up four Pakistan batsmen to put India in the box seat.

Offie Habhajan Singh snared Salman Butt (42) and Mohammad Yousuf (6) while skipper Anil Kumble foxed Faisal Iqbal (0).

Story continues below this ad

In between, Munaf Patel got the prized wicket of stand-in skipper Younis Khan (43), who chased an away going delivery to gift a simple catch to wicket keeper M S Dhoni.