Afridi launches Pakistan's move to go for stiff target

Pakistan made a bold attempt to chase a stiff 422-run target for victory in the second Test against an India inspired by Rahul Dravid at the Eden Gardens here on Saturday. Shahid Afridi smashed a run-a-ball 59 and Taufeeq Umar an unbeaten 29 as Pakistan reached 95 for one at stumps on the penultimate day. Younis Khan had yet to score.
Dravid, 32, earlier completed a century in each innings of a Test as India posted 407 for nine declared on top of a first-innings lead of 14.
The stage is set for an exciting final day on Sunday. Pakistan now need 327 more runs in 90 overs on a slow turning track where the odd ball kept a little low.
Only three teams - the West Indies (2003), India (1976) and Australia (1948) - have so far scored more than 400 in the fourth innings to win a Test in the history of the game.
Afridi hit two sixes and nine fours to give his team a brisk start, putting on 93 for the opening wicket with Umar.
India heaved a sigh of relief when Afridi was caught by Sourav Ganguly at fine leg while trying to sweep leg-spinner Anil Kumble in the penultimate over of the day.
The hosts were indebted to Dravid for setting a challenging target as the stylish batsman followed his first-innings 110 with a chanceless 135.
This was only the sixth instance in Indian cricket that a batsman had scored a hundred in each innings of a match. Sunil Gavaskar did it three times, Dravid twice and Vijay Hazare once.
Dravid's 20th Test hundred in 88 matches came just when his team needed a long innings.
India were in trouble in the morning but Dravid came to the rescue with a 165-run stand for the fifth wicket with young Dinesh Karthik, who cracked a career-best 93.
The hosts lost captain Ganguly after adding just 21 to their overnight total of 133 for three and then saw Venkatsai Laxman retire hurt after scoring only two.
India were only 170 ahead when Laxman left the field with a swelling over the left eye, suffered while trying to fend off a rising delivery from fast bowler Mohammad Sami. He later returned to make 24.
Dravid, called 'The Wall' for his rock-like defence and consistency, lived up to his reputation with yet another elegant knock which shattered Pakistan's hopes of retricting India's lead.
There was never a moment of uncertainty in Dravid's stroke-play as he cut and drove on his way to a century. He hit 15 fours in his 283-ball knock.
When Dravid was caught in the deep by Asim Kamal off leg-spinner Danish Kaneria, India were safe with a lead of 335.
Karthik, 19, batted sensibly under pressure to provide valuable support to his senior partner.
Playing only his seventh Test, the wicket-keeper looked set to score a deserving maiden century when he was bowled by Kaneria going for big shots before the declaration. He struck 13 fours in his 140-ball knock.
The Test was wide open in the morning session before Pakistan encountered Dravid and Karthik.
Sami did the damage in his lively opening spell when he held a return catch to account for Ganguly, who mis-timed a pull after adding just eight to his overnight four to leave his home crowd disappointed.
Sami, Kaneria and seamer Abdul Razzaq finished with three wickets apiece.
SCOREBOARD
INDIA (1st innings): 407 (R. Dravid 110, V. Sehwag 81, S. Tendulkar 52; A. Razzaq 3-62, S. Afridi 3-80, D. Kaneria 3-136):
PAKISTAN (1st innings): 393 (Younis Khan 147, Yousuf Youhana 104; A. Kumble 3-98):

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INDIA (2nd innings - overnight 133-3):

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V. Sehwag b Sami                    15

G. Gambhir b Sami                    1

R. Dravid c Kamal b Kaneria        135

S. Tendulkar c Akmal b Razzaq       52

S. Ganguly c and b Sami             12

V. Laxman st Akmal b Kaneria        24

D. Karthik b Kaneria                93

I. Pathan not out                   38

H. Singh b Razzaq                    0

L. Balaji c Akmal b Razzaq           0

A. Kumble not out                   14

EXTRAS: (B-5, LB-5, NB-12, W-1)     23

TOTAL: (for 9 wkts decl)           407

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Fall of wickets: 1-14, 2-23, 3-121, 4-154, 5-321, 6-331, 7-377, 8-378, 9-378.
BOWLING: Khalil 12-0-64-0, Sami 23-5-82-3, Kaneria 34-7-123-3, Afridi 15-2-47-0, Razzaq 19-3-80-3, Younis 1-0-1-0.
OVERS: 104

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PAKISTAN (2nd innings):

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Taufeeq Umar not out                29

Shahid Afridi c Ganguly b Kumble    59

Younis Khan not out                  0

EXTRAS: (B-4, LB-1, NB-1, W-1)       7

TOTAL: (for one wkt)                95

FALL OF WICKET:                   1-93

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