Get Sports News Via RSS

>>>ematchfixing>>Cricket>>News>

Dravid gives India slim advantage

Rahul Dravid played a vital innings as India battled hard to gain the initiative after three days of the second Test against Pakistan.

Dravid was 54 not out at stumps on the third day, having lost Sachin Tendulkar (52) to a poor umpiring decision.

The pair had put on a vital 98 as India reached 133-3, an overall lead of 147.

Earlier, spinners Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh had run amok among Pakistan's lower order as the tourists were all out for 393.

Kumble took 3-98 and Harbhajan 2-93 to earn their side a slender 14-run lead on a Calcutta pitch gradually taking more turn.

Starting the day in a strong position on 273-2, Pakistan soon lost Yousuf Youhana for 104 and the last five wickets went down for 32 after Younis Khan fell to Kumble for 147.

Youhana offered no stroke to a ball from seamer Lakshmipathy Balaji in the fifth over of play and was lbw.

There was no immediate cause for alarm for the tourists as skipper Inzamam-ul-Haq walked to the middle and he produced some fine strokes on both sides of the wicket.

But left-armer Irfan Pathan found the edge of Inzamam's bat after he had reached 30 and wicket-keeper Dinesh Karthik made no mistake.

India were soon celebrating again when Asim Kamal was run out for six after attempting a third run to Tendulkar at long-on.

Younis was still there on 145 not out at lunch, but only added two more before Kumble brought his 258-ball innings to a close, with the help of a slip catch by VVS Laxman.

Harbhajan removed first Test hero Kamran Akmal for a duck, leaving Abdul Razzaq as Pakistan's best hope of edging past the Indian total.

He was watchful in making 16 off 59 balls, but was then caught by Rahul Dravid off Kumble and Mohammad Sami and Mohammad Khalil did not last long, leaving Danish Kaneria on three not out.

India doubled their advantage in one over at the start of their second innings as Mohammad Khalil conceded 14.

New ball partner Sami, however, needed only one delivery to account for Gautam Gambhir, who was bowled for one.

He also found a way through the defences of Virender Sehwag, who followed for 14 after contriving to play a short ball wide of off-stump onto his stumps.

That left Pakistan momentarily in the driving-seat with India 23-2.

But after tea, Dravid and Tendulkar put pressure on Sami and Kaneria by stroking a series of boundaries through the covers.

Tendulkar went to his 40th Test fifty with a delightful glide behind point off Razzaq.

Then, as thunderclouds gathered overhead and the light faded fast, Razzaq had his revenge when winning a dubious appeal against the batsman.

Umpire Steve Bucknor gave the batsman out caught behind, although Pakistan barely appealed and replays showed the ball missed the bat by an inch.

It made Dravid, who had hit 110 in the first innings, even more determined, and a ferocious pull off Razzaq brought him his half-century.

Moments later, the umpires drew stumps seven overs early.