Pakistan fight back to salvage draw

Cricket: Younus Khan's 15th Test century helped Pakistan salvage a draw from the second Test against India.

Cricket:Younus Khan's 15th Test century helped Pakistan salvage a draw from the second Test against India.

After being set an unlikely victory target of 354 on the final day, Pakistan were stuttering on 126 for four at tea.

But Younus made an unbeaten 107 and Mohammad Yousuf added 43 not out to ensure the tourists will go into the third and final Test in Bangalore with a chance of levelling the three-match series.

India began the day 141 for two and, after Mahendra Singh Dhoni (37) and Sourav Ganguly (46) brought up their 50-run third wicket partnership in 77 balls, both were bowled by Shoaib Akhtar.

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Rahul Dravid remained unbeaten on eight when the declaration came with the hosts on 184 for four after adding 43 runs in 6.4 overs in 50 minutes on Tuesday morning.

Pakistan had a testing mini-session before lunch and could not make it through unscathed, with Zaheer Khan taking a return catch to dismiss opener Yasir Hameed for 14.

And it got worse after the break as India captain Anil Kumble (two for 73) claimed a brace of wickets.

First, the spinner went past the outside edge of Kamran Akmal to clean bowl the other opener for 14.

Salman Butt followed lbw for a 91-ball 11, and Misbah-ul-Haq was next back in the pavilion for just six when he was undone by the pace of Munaf Patel and was bowled between bat and pad.

It could have been even worse for the 33-year-old as he was dropped by Dinesh Karthik when still on nought.

But Younus reached his 20th Test 50, off 108 balls, and he reached the interval on 53 with Yousuf (12) alongside him at the crease.

Pakistan were 126 for four at that point and India had a real chance of victory.

But the two experienced Pakistanis ensured there was no further damage.

Younus reached three figures off 174 balls with a reverse sweep and after that it was only a matter of time before the match was declared a draw.

India take a 1-0 lead into the final match which begins on Saturday.