CRICKET:India held a commanding 220-run lead over Pakistan at stumps yesterday, day four of the third Test, which continues to head for a draw in Bangalore. After the tourists had been bowled out for 537, a half-century from Sourav Ganguly helped India to 131 for two in their second innings.
Openers Wasim Jaffer and Gautam Gambhir were the men to fall for the hosts, before Ganguly and Rahul Dravid shared an unbeaten third-wicket stand of 105. Misbah-ul-Haq earlier hit an unbeaten century to help Pakistan avoid the follow-on.
The visitors started the day on 369 for five, still 257 runs adrift of India's mammoth 626 all out. But Misbah and Kamran Akmal chipped away, the wicketkeeper-batsman reaching his eighth Test fifty in 83 balls.
Akmal was tempted down the pitch by a flighted delivery from Harbhajan Singh and stumped by Dinesh Karthik on 65. But Yasir Arafat and and Misbah guided Pakistan safely through to lunch, and the former went on to 44 before being bowled by his fellow debutant Ishant Sharma.
An afternoon collapse saw 525 for six become 537 all out at tea, leaving Misbah the last man standing on 133. Sharma claimed the last four wickets to finish with five for 118 from 37 overs.
Pakistan have to win this final Test to level the series. But with just three sessions remaining, they face a near impossible task - needing to dismiss India and then chase what looks sure to be a total well beyond reach.Overnight: India 626 (S C Ganguly 239, Yuvraj Singh 169, I K Pathan 102; Yasir Arafat 5 for 161). Pakistan 369 for 5 (Younus Khan 80, Salman Butt 68, Misbah-ul-Haq 54 no).
Pakistan: First Innings:
Misbah ul-Haq not out 133
Kamran Akmal st Karthik b Harbhajan Singh 65
Yasir Arafat b I Sharma 44
Mohammad Sami b I Sharma 1
Shoaib Akhtar c Gambhir b I Sharma 1
Danish Kaneria c and b I Sharma 4
Extras b35 lb26 nb15 pens 0 76
Total (168.1 overs) 537
Fall: 1-59, 2-149, 3-221, 4-227, 5-288, 6-432, 7-525, 8-527, 9-529.
Bowling: Pathan 37-14-80-1; I Sharma 33.1-10-118-5; Kumble 44-12-116-1; Ganguly 10-2-20-1; Harbhajan Singh 38-7-131-2; Yuvraj Singh 6-2-11-0.
India: Second Innings:
W Jaffer lbw b Yasir Arafat 18
G Gambhir b Shoaib Akhtar 3
R Dravid not out 35
S C Ganguly not out 63
Extras lb6 nb6 pens 0 12
Total 2 wkts (37 overs) 131
Fall: 1-17, 2-26.
To Bat: V V S Laxman, Yuvraj Singh, K D Karthik, I K Pathan, A Kumble, Harbhajan Singh, I Sharma.
Bowling: Shoaib Akhtar 9-3-21-1; Mohammad Sami 11-1-36-0; Yasir Arafat 9-2-38-1; Danish Kaneria 8-0-30-0.
