India Draws A Won Series

A determined Pakistan restored their pride with athrilling 168-run win over arch rivals India in the third and final Test,exploiting an inept batting display by the hosts to level the series 1-1 today.

The Indians, facing a daunting target of 383 for avictory, seemed to be weighed down by the target and paid a heavy price fortheir defensive approach as they were bundled out for 214 with just six oversleft on a pulsating fifth day at the M Chinaswamy stadium.

After a promising start when Virender Sehwag and GautamGambhir put on 87 runs for the opening stand, the hosts seemed to pull down theshutters a little prematurely after the the in-form Sehwag's dismissal.

The resulting defensive tactic backfired on a pitch ofvariable bounce as they suffered a middle order collapse. From 164 for seven,the lower order, led by Anil Kumble (37 not out) waged a courageous battle buttheir efforts went in vain and the end came with six overs remaining in theday's play.

It was a fantastic Pakistani team effort with ShahidAfridi (3-13) delivering the crucial blows, including the wickets of SachinTendulkar, V.V.S. Laxman and Saurav Ganguly.

Mohammad Sami (2-84) and Danish Kaneria (2-46) keptcoming back at the Indians with accurate and probing spells while off-spinnerArshad Khan, in his comeback match after four years, pitched in with 2-21.

The memorable win helped Pakistan level the series and shed the underdog tagattached to them at the start of the tour while the Indians let go anopportunity to become the second highest ranked team for the first time ever.

A draw would have put them on par with England, instead they now remain inthe third place in the ICC Test team rankings.

If only one of the big guns had fired. As it were, the quartet of RahulDravid, Tendulkar, Ganguly and Laxman could muster just 39 runs between them.

Tendulkar (16) in the process became India's highest run-getter surpassingSunil Gavaskar's aggregate of 10,122 when he reached five.

But for Dravid (16), it was another extreme from scoring two centuries forthe second time in Kolkata.

Kumble waged a lone battle towards the end with a counter-attacking 37 thatcame from 52 balls with seven fours.

Although the number of overs remaining for the day kept dwindling to add tothe gripping climax, the Pakistanis knew the prey was bleeding and it was amatter of time the kill was completed.

Younis Khan, with a record double century in the first innings, was named man-of-the-match.

It would have been of little consolation for Sehwag that he was adjudged man-of-the-seriesafter his innings was cut short by wrong calling by his opening partner GautamGambhir.

Afridi (2-10) struck twice in the post lunch session to derail the Indianinnings.

Pakistan got their first breakthrough when Sehwag (38) was run out by adirect hit by Abdul Razzaq in the morning session.

Resuming at 25 for no loss, India made a cautious start. But it was not longbefore Sehwag opened his shoulders and launched into the rival bowling.

Sehwag hit three successive fours of Razzaq in his second over and an uppishoff drive off Kaneria beat the mid off fielder.

Sehwag was beginning to collar the Pakistani attack when the run out cameagainst run of play.

Gambhir called for a single after nudging Kaneria to mid on. But when he sentSehwag back, it was too late and Razzaq's accurate throw knocked down the stumpsat non-striker's end, much to the relief of his teammates.

Sehwag's 38 came from 53 balls, spanned 104 minutes and contained six fours.

Gambhir reached his second career 50 with a single off Kaneria. But in thesecond over after lunch, he was adjudged leg before to Mohammad Sami.

Ten runs later, Dravid prodded at off-spinner Arshad Khan, and Younis atsilly point plucked out of thin air a sharp reflex catch.

Afridi then trapped Laxman (5) plumb in front with a faster one before he leftGanguly (2) in disbelief with a huge leg break that knocked his off stump.

Tendulkar remained on five, the runs he needed to go past Gavaskar, for 55minutes before he turned Kaneria down to third man.

The Mumbai batsman was reprieved when Asim Kamal failed to hold on to a catchat forward shortleg when Tendulkar was caught off guard by a rising deliveryfrom Sami.

Kamal however made amends for it as he made no mistake the second time whenAfridi forced a bat-pad catch from the master batsman.

The Pakistani spinners bowled a tight line and length. At one stage, Kaneriacontinuously bowled five maiden overs. The field set up was attacking too, eightmen around the bat in umbrella formation.

Pathan was somewhat unlucky when his straightforward defence to Arshadbounced off his boot to Youhana at silly point.

Although he was out for zero, his association with Kumble for the eighthwicket was worth 25 runs.

Harbhajan Singh (8) lasted 22 balls before Kaneria had him caught by Younis.

Kumble chose attack as his mode of defence but Pakistan cleverly concentratedon the other end.

Kaneria brought the curtains down on a thrilling encounter when he hadLakshmipathy Balaji (0) leg before.

PTI