They had gambled by playing five specialist bowlers, including Singh coming in for Sourav Ganguly. Ganguly’s exclusion, which led to even more effigies of Greg Chappell being burnt in Calcutta, was justified, given the pounding that the Indians had taken at Lahore, and when Singh and Zaheer Khan struck in quick succession to send back the openers, Shoaib Malik and Salman Butt, with 65 on the board, their captain, Rahul Dravid, had a smile on his face.
The euphoria within the Indian camp would have intensified had Sachin Tendulkar’s shy at the stumps been accurate with Younis Khan having made 11. Younis capitalised with another wonderful innings against bowlers whom he has dominated in recent times. At Lahore he and Mohammad Yousuf had added 319. Here they managed 142 at a rapid clip as the ball lost its shine and hardness.
Another pasting appeared to be on the cards with Younis and Yousuf cruising past 50, but a catch of staggering brilliance from Yuvraj Singh raised Indian spirits. It was among the worst deliveries that RP Singh bowled all day, short and wide outside off stump, but Younis’s savage cut was plucked out of the air at point by Yuvraj, who leapt and extended his left hand to provide a freeze-frame that delighted the photographers. Younis had taken just 131 balls for his 83, and he departed the scene with the reluctance of a man who could scarcely believe what he had witnessed.
Yousuf followed him soon enough, tickling a wide one behind to give Singh a third scalp, and India sensed a real chance, especially with Inzamam’s back having been such a cause for concern. But after surviving a couple of leg-before appeals, he and Afridi were imperious in their dismissal of the attack. Afridi rubbed it in towards the end, slamming the wayward Irfan Pathan for two fours and two sixes in an over after the second new ball had been taken. Dravid refused to be too critical of his bowlers, saying: “It looked like we were in control. But the game ran away from us in the last hour.”
For Pakistan, another Himalayan total beckons. Younis said: “We need to have another good session in the morning to take advantage of the position we are in, score quickly and take it from there.” If they do, India could be in real strife.