Pakistan Fight Back After Kumble Wickets

The first Test between India and Pakistan in Delhi is hanging in the balance after a fascinating third day. The vistors finished on 212 for five - a lead of 167 with five second wickets in hand.

Openers Salman Butt and Yasir Hameed put on 71, before Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh picked up five wickets to leave Pakistan struggling at 161 for 5. But Karman Akmal and Misbah-ul-Haq put on an unbeaten stand of 51 for the sixth wicket as the low-scoring game took another turn.

In the morning session India had squandered their chance to build a substantial first innings lead by losing their final four wickets for 14 runs. VVS Laxman finished unbeaten on 72, but once Kumble was out for 24, the rest of the tail was unable to support him. Harbhajan faced only five deliveries before his leg stump was removed by Sohail Tanvir. Zaheer Khan hammered Danish Kaneria for a six over long-on but perished for nine the next delivery when Shoaib Akhtar took a fine catch at mid-off.

Kaneria picked up his fourth wicket of the innings with the next ball, dismissing Munaf Patel lbw for a duck as the Indians were dismissed for 276. In reply for Pakistan, Yasir Hameed was the only man dismissed between lunch and tea, falling victim to a brilliant catch at silly point by Laxman off Kumble for 36.

But after lunch wickets fell with greater rapidity. Younis Khan leg before to Kumble for 23 and Mohammad Yousuf made 18 from 21 balls before offering a caught-and-bowled opportunity to Harbhajan. Kumble struck a third time when Butt, on 67, edged to Rahul Dravid at first slip. Pakistan skipper Shoaib Malik also came and went before the close, bowled off an inside edge by Harbhajan for 11.

The sixth wicket partnership steadied Pakistan's innings and set up the possibility of yet another enthralling day, as the Test moves towards its climax.