A commanding performance by its top order helpedPakistan set India a steep fourth innings target and push for a series-levellingvictory in the third and final Test at the M Chinnaswamy stadium today.
A blazing half century by the swashbuckling ShahidAfridi followed by another defiant innings from vice-captain Younis Khan sawPakistan declare their second innings at 261 for two.
Younis, with a record-breaking double century in thefirst innings, was unbeaten on 84 from 98 balls while young opening batsmanYasir Hameed came into his own at the right time to anchor the visitors' secondessay with a valuable 76.
Having conceded a first innings lead of 121 after beingdismissed for 449 earlier in the day, the hosts now face a daunting target of383 which no team has successfully chased in India so far.
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At stumps, India were 25 for no loss with VirenderSehwag on six and Gautam Gambhir on 19.
Afridi (58) set up the perfect launch pad for his teamwith an explosive innings. Afridi and Yasir scored at a scorching pace and theyshared a 91-run partnership for the first wicket in 78 balls.
Afridi struck the fastest fifty by a Pakistani when hereached the mark in 26 balls.
The cavalier batsman, however, was tied down by Sachin Tendulkar who ripped hugeleg breaks from the bowlers' footmarks around the batsman' legs.
Trying to break the shackles Afridi stepped out toTendulkar, missed and was stumped. His 58 came in 61 minutes from 34 balls witheight fours and two sixes.
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Hameed then put on 92 runs for the second wicket withYounis before he was adjudged leg before wicket to Anil Kumble.
Thereafter, captain Inzamam-ul-Haq (31 not out), whohis 184 in the first knock, and Younis drilled a few boundaries that had theIndians completely on the mat.
If Inzamam was on the ball from the outset, pullingKumble disdainfully to the mid-wicket fence, Younis was audacious in playing areverse sweep-drive against India's leading wicket-taker.
The shot also brought up the team's 250 in the 49thover. The duo brought up their 50-run stand in mere 45 balls.
Earlier, V.V.S. Laxman struck a timely 79 and shared a50-run partnership with Kumble for the last wicket that helped the hosts reducethe deficit to 121.
Resuming at 379 for six, India were 396 for nine at onestage after losing three wickets for 10 runs in the morning.
Danish Kaneria picked up his 10th five-wicket haul for figures of 5-125 as hesliced through the Indian tail.
Mohammad Sami (3-106) provided the first breakthroughof the day for his team when he had Irfan Pathan (5) caught by Yousuf Youhana inthe fifth over.
Kaneria then removed Harbhajan Singh in the next overand four overs later Lakshmipathy Balaji was back in the pavilion.
Laxman earned a reprieve when he was on 70, with Younisdropping an uppish shot at slips off Sami.
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Kumble was dropped by wicket keeper Kamran Akmal whenhe was on six off Abdul Razzaq after Pakistan took the new ball in the 115thover.
The duo then frustrated the Pakistani bowlers who wereon top earlier. Kumble hit a boundary off Kaneria to help the home team reachthe 400 mark.
Afridi, out for a first ball duck in the first innings,responded for the faith reposed in him with a blistering knock.
The team's 50 came up in 6.5 overs as Balaji and Pathanconceded 26 and 45 runs in their first spells respectively.
Kumble was brought on in the seventh over but it wasnot until the introduction of Tendulkar in the 11th over did things begin tochange.
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Afridi, spilled by Pathan at fine-leg boundary, missedout on the fastest ever 50, by Jacques Kallis in 24 balls.
His hurricane knock was brought to an end by the guileof Tendulkar.
PTI
