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Younis helps Pakistan take charge

Younis Khan's marathon innings of 267 was finally ended as Pakistan were all out for 570 on day two of the final Test against India in Bangalore.

India had 10 overs to bat out in the final session and eased to 55-0.

But they have plenty to do to draw the game and win the series after Younis became the sixth Pakistani to pass 250, batting for more than 11 hours.

He was eventually caught off Harbhajan Singh, who was the pick of the Indian bowlers and claimed figures of 6-152.

Lakshmipathy made the early breakthrough, however, trapping captain Inzamam-ul-Haq with a good-length ball that darted in off the seam.

It was then left to Younis to make the most of the good position Pakistan found themselves in.

The 27-year-old continued to time the ball well and dispatched Irfan Pathan for two fours backward of square in the day's opening over.

Yousuf Youhana also looked in good nick, driving Balaji to the cover fence and lofting leg-spinner Anil Kumble over mid-off.

He could have been out on 24 when Sachin Tendulkar's throw from point missed the stumps at the non-striker's end with the batsman well short.

But he was on his way for 37 when he cut a sharp delivery from Harbhajan into wicket-keeper Dinesh Karthik's gloves.

Younis could have fallen soon after lunch when he edged a fine delivery from Balaji that moved away past a diving VVS Laxman at slip.

India did not have to wait long for a breakthrough, however, as four balls later Asim Kamal (4) top-edged an attempted sweep off Harbhajan and Sourav Ganguly took an easy catch.

All-rounder Abdul Razzaq looked far from comfortable in his 37-ball innings and his first real show of aggression cost him his wicket for just five runs.

Harbhajan took a simple return catch after flighting the ball and finding plenty of turn.

At the other end, Younis was still looking imperious.

Two boundaries off leg-spinner Kumble took his highest Test score past the 200 mark and extended his record total for the Chinnaswamy Stadium.

Wicket-keeper Kamran Akmal also showed plenty of positive intent, getting off the mark with a powerful cut off Harbhajan to backward point, and smashing three further boundaries off the same bowler.

Harbhajan had his revenge when another delivery turned sharply and hit Akmal's leg stump just before tea.

But it was a minor victory as Younis showed no signs of tiredness after tea.

A glorious cover drive and a lovely shot to backward point brought eight more runs, helping the vice-captain steadily climb the list of highest individual scores for Pakistan.

He received solid support from Mohammad Sami in a 61-run stand came before Sami was sent back by his senior partner and was run out by some distance by Gautam Gambhir.

Pakistan's innings then ended in a hurry as a miscued shot from Younis was snapped up by Irfan Pathan at mid-off and Danish Kaneria went for a first-ball duck, caught at deep mid-wicket by Laxman after a slog-sweep.

With a tricky period to see off, India's Virender Sehwag - as is his wont - chose attack as the best option.

The powerful opener smashed five fours and a huge six off Kaneria to prove that while there is plenty of turn available for the spinners, this is essentially a batsman's paradise.