India extends its lead after Misbah, Sami avoid follow-on

Dec 04:  Misbah provides Pakistan a glimmer of hope for pushing a draw while Indian players will play their heart out to win the Test and to seal the series

Indian team extended its lead over three hundred run mark after Misbah-ul-Haq and Mohammad Sami frustrated Indians by adding 91 runs and avoiding follow-on to provide them a ray of light for enabling a draw in the match.

India was 141 for two at stumps in their second innings and accrued an overall lead of 301 runs on the fourth day of the second Test against Pakistan at Kolkata on Monday. MS Dhoni 28 and Sourav Ganguly 24 were at the crease when the umpires offered them light.

Earlier, Pakistan was all out for 456 conceding India a first innings lead of 160 runs, thanks to some superb batting display by Misbah-ul-Haq, who remained unbeaten on 161 and Mohammad Sami (38) helping the visitors avoid the follow-on. VVS Laxman broke the stand in his only over.

Sami caught at mid-off after giving charge to Laxman, set off a collapse as the last three wickets fell adding just eight runs.

Off-spinner Harbhajan Singh cleaned up the tail to return his 20th five-wicket haul while skipper Anil Kumble took three.

A fluent Misbah and a gusty Sami saw off the first hour and adopted watchful approach. Both of them added 60 runs in the first session after needing 59 runs to avoid the follow-on.

Wasim Jaffer and Dinesh Kaarthick opened the batting for the hosts. Jaffer started his innings on an aggressive note. Jaffer put on 75 for the first wicket with Dinesh Kaarthick (28) before leg-spinner Kaneria dismissed them in succession. Jaffer scored a quick-fire 56 off 75 deliveries, which included eight boundaries.

Dhoni promoted at number three to pile on some quick runs and he along with Ganguly took control of the situation sharing an unbeaten stand of 46 runs till the end of day's play.

The match is now turned in to an exiting tussle between both the teams as India will play to win while Pakistan will fight it out to force a draw.

SCOREBOARD

India - 1st innings: 616 for decl.

Pakistan - 1st innings:

S. Butt c Dravid b Harbhajan 42, Y. Hameed lbw b Kumble 21, Younis c Dhoni b Munaf 43, M. Yousuf b Harbhajan 6, Misbah (not out) 161, F. Iqbal lbw b Kumble 0, K. Akmal b Harbhajan 119, M. Sami c Jaffer b Laxman 38, S. Tanvir c Dravid b Kumble 0, S. Akhtar c Dravid b Harbhajan 0, D. Kaneria b Harbhajan 0, Extras (b-8, lb-7, nb-10, w-1): 26; Total (in 151.1 overs): 456.

Fall of wickets: 1-38, 2-77, 3-85, 4-134, 5-150, 6-357, 7-448, 8-449, 9-452, 10-456.

India bowling:

Zaheer 25.2-8-69-0, Munaf 21-4-85-1, Harbhajan 45.5-9-122-5, Kumble 47-14-122-3, Tendulkar 7-1-32-0, Ganguly 4-1-9-0, Laxman 1-0-2-1.

India - 2nd innings:

W. Jaffer b Kaneria 56, D. Kaarthick c Misbah b Kaneria 28, M.S. Dhoni (batting) 28, S. Ganguly (batting) 24, Extras (lb-2, nb-3): 5; Total (two wkts. in 36 overs): 141.

Fall of wickets: 1-75, 2-95.

Pakistan bowling:

Akhtar 9-0-24-0, Tanvir 9-0-41-0, Sami 5-1-28-0, Kaneria 12-0-41-2, Butt 1-0-5-0.