— Photo: S. Subramanium

EXPLOSIVE AND EXCITING: The gifted Mahendra Dhoni, in partnership with Irfan Pathan, pulled the chestnuts out of the fire for India in the second Test against Pakistan in Faisalabad on Monday. With the threat of a follow on looming — India lost four wickets for 45 runs in the space of 11 overs — Dhoni (116 not out) and Pathan (49 not out), put on 160 for the unbroken sixth wicket to steer India to safety.

Faisalabad: Reputations are made and unmade in situations like these — a Test match on the boil, a celebrated fast bowler on the prowl, the cauldron of an India-Pakistan duel, and a potentially precarious situation for the team.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni not only grew as a Test cricketer at the Iqbal Stadium on Monday, but also made a statement about his character, proved a point to the doubters, and, along with the combative Irfan Pathan, rescued India from a period of crisis.

When Shoaib Akhtar, in the midst of a blistering spell with the second new ball, bounced at him, Dhoni responded with a brave pulled six. This was courage under adversity and a breathtaking onslaught. Confidence, he certainly oozes.

The counter-attacking Dhoni (116 batting, 123b, 14x4, 4x6) and the determined Pathan (49 batting, 96b, 4x4, 1x6) have put together 160 for the sixth wicket in 211 deliveries and India, replying to Pakistan's 588, was 441 for five at stumps on the third day of the second Allianz Test.

Solid platform

Earlier, skipper Rahul Dravid's back-to-back Test hundred as opener (103, 220b, 16x4) and his 197-run association in 336 deliveries for the second wicket with V.V.S. Laxman (90, 208b, 11x4) had built a solid platform for India before a surprising slump left the side

at 281 for five and staring at a possible follow on. Dhoni and Pathan, then, took the game away from the host.

Pakistan will be without its injured captain Inzmam-ul-Haq for the rest of the match, and it is unlikely that opener Shoaib Malik, who has flown back to Sialkot to tend to his ailing father suffering from Hepatitis C, will be available to bat in the second innings.

If India can get close to the Pakistan score, or even build a lead of some kind, it could still put the host batting under some pressure.

The pitch continues to be in favour of the batsmen, but there is a hint of assistance to the spinners and the odd ball is tending to keep a trifle low.

Walking and sledging

STANDING FIRM: Rahul Dravid played a solid skipper's knock to come up with his second successive century as an opener. — Photo: S. Subramanium

It was not a day without drama. Sachin Tendulkar, who was involved in a gripping face-off with Akhtar, `walked' after a short-pitched delivery angled across him by the Pakistani brushed his glove on way to 'keeper Kamran Akmal. Television replays later showed that his glove was off the bat handle when the ball made contact.

And sledging raised its ugly head. Umpires Simon Toufel and Rudi Koertzen were forced to speak to vice-captain Younis Khan after Akhtar and Afridi indulged in verbal gamesmanship, particularly against Pathan.

Earlier, Laxman's ambitious cut off Kaneria cost him a century, Dravid fell to a brilliant direct hit from substitute Imran Farhat at square-leg and Yuvraj hooked paceman Mohammad Asif, wisely bowling from round the wicket, to Kaneria at fine-leg.

If the Pakistani gameplan was to pepper the wicket-keeper batsman with short-pitched deliveries, Dhoni responded with some decisive hooks and pulls. And there was one thundering back-footed cover-drive on the rise off Akhtar that screamed for attention.

He also smote Kaneria over the mid-wicket fence with ridiculous ease, and used the sweep stroke well against the spinners.

Dhoni raced to his fifty in just 34 balls, and then turned more circumspect...coasting to a century in 93 balls! Younis brought back Akhtar with Dhoni on 97, and the youngster replied with a booming cover-drive. His maiden hundred had been made in trying circumstances.

In the latter part of his innings, he was bleeding through his nose, was cramping slightly, but carried on. The Pakistanis was rattled by his onslaught.

At the other end, Pathan, who had a slice of luck late in the day when Akmal grassed a difficult offering when the persistent Asif found the edge, grew in confidence.

Younis is an energetic character but his captaincy was often baffling. He needed to give Akhtar a longer burst than six overs with the new ball, and kept Kaneria on for long periods even when the leg-spinner was being treated with disdain by Dhoni and Pathan. And why was there was no short-leg in place for Kaneria?

Holding firm

In the morning, Dravid and Laxman held firm. Dravid's classic forward defence is one of the greats sights in the game and his judgment outside the off-stump was once again impeccable. The Indian captain also essayed some wonderful cover and on-drives.

Akhtar and Asif bowled well in the morning session but Razzaq was unable to maintain the pressure when he replaced Akhtar from the press box end.

When Razzaq over-pitched, the wristy Laxman dismissed him through mid-wicket. When Kaneria erred in length, he drove him through covers. This was graceful batting.

The chemistry between Dravid and Laxman dates back to their under-19 days and reflects in their partnerships.

Given their competence against spin, both Dravid and Laxman stroked square off the wicket with finesse and Dravid did reach his 22 Test hundred with a delicate back-cut. The skipper has been leading by example.

Dravid's praise

Rahul Dravid described Mahendra Singh Dhoni's aggressive century as the "best counter-attacking innings I have seen in my life." He lauded Dhoni and Pathan for their "courage, ability and fighting spirit."

On the verbal barrage from some of the Pakistani cricketers, he said "I cannot comment on it. You must have seen it for yourself. The game should not be reduced to a shambles."

Asked about Tendulkar `walking' when replays suggested that he might not have been out, Dravid replied "His walking was instinctive. He realised that he could have been not out only when he reached the dressing room."

Dravid said his partnership with Laxman was critical but was disappointed that the two did not survive till the second new ball. "Anything can happen in the match. There are 180 overs left," he said.

About Virender Sehwag being down with a bout of fever, Dravid said "it is nothing to worry about."

Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer said he was not concerned at the prospect of Inzamam-ul-Haq and Shoaib Malik not being available to bat in the second innings. "It is insensitive to even ask Shoaib to come back from Sialkot. His father is really ill."

He expected the Test to end in a draw. "The pitch is still playing flat."

On Shoaib Akhtar's six-over burst with the second new ball, he said, "It was a fantastic piece of fast bowling. As a former cricketer, I would not have liked to be facing him."

"If we had got two wickets with India at 281 for five" we could have forced a win, he said.

Pakistan — 1st innings: 588

India — 1st innings: V. Sehwag c (sub) Farhat b Razzaq 31, R. Dravid (run out) 103, V.V.S. Laxman c Akmal b Kaneria 90, S. Tendulkar c Akmal b Akhtar 14, Yuvraj Singh c Kaneria b Asif 4, M.S. Dhoni (batting) 116, I. Pathan (batting) 49, Extras (b-2, lb-12, w-2, nb-18) 34, Total (for five wkts. in 121 overs) 441.

Fall of wickets: 1-39 (Sehwag), 2-236 (Laxman), 3-241 (Dravid), 4-258 (Yuvraj), 5-281 (Tendulkar).

Pakistan bowling: Akhtar 22-7-73-1 (nb-2, w-1), Asif 27-4-89-1 (nb-3, w-1), Razzaq 23-1-109-1 (nb-10), Kaneria 32-3-94-1 (nb-3), Afridi 17-0-62-0.

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