India keep Pakistan at bay

Second Test, Calcutta (day four, tea): India 616-5 & 20-0 v Pakistan 456

India remain in control of the second Test despite Pakistan's stubborn effort with the bat on day four in Calcutta.

Misbah-ul-Haq (161no) and Mohammad Sami (38) achieved the 417 required to avoid the follow-on after India posted a mammoth first innings total of 616-5.

But the hosts took four wickets after lunch to bowl out Pakistan for 456 and secure a lead of 160.

At tea, India were 20-0 in their second innings with Dinesh Karthik (5) and Wasim Jaffer (13) at the crease.

But the morning session belonged to the tourists, who picked up where they left off on day three with a gutsy and disciplined batting display.

Having slumped to 150-5, Misbah and Kamran Akmal (119) led the fightback before the impressive Sami helped Misbah to draw Pakistan unexpectedly into contention.

Pakistan resumed on 358-6 and after a cautious start Misbah soon opened up, lofting Harbhajan Singh straight down the ground for six in the fifth over.

India's only genuine opportunity came three overs later when Sami was dropped by Rahul Dravid off the bowling of Anil Kumble.

A series of bat-pad and leg-before appeals were turned down before Pakistan passed their follow-on target shortly before lunch.

But India bowled with greater urgency after the re-start and both batsmen were fortunate to survive.

Sami nicked a Kumble delivery onto his pads and into the hands of Karthik, while Misbah appeared to be trapped leg-before by Munaf Patel, but both appeals were turned down.

Misbah went on to reach 150 before the final wickets eventually tumbled.

Sami mishit VVS Laxman into the hands of Jaffer and then Kumble had Sohail Tanvir caught acrobatically by Dravid in the slips for a duck.

Harbhajan wrapped up the innings, completing a five-for by dismissing Shoaib Akhtar and Danish Kaneria, who failed to trouble the scorers.

India lead the three-match series 1-0 following their first Test win in New Delhi.

Source: BBC Sport