Inzamam takes lead to frustrate India

India 287 Pakistan 355-3

The Pakistan captain, Inzamam-ul-Haq, and the opener Imran Farhat scored centuries here yesterday as Pakistan built a 68-run lead at stumps on the second day of the second Test against India.

The Pakistan captain, Inzamam-ul-Haq, and the opener Imran Farhat scored centuries here yesterday as Pakistan built a 68-run lead at stumps on the second day of the second Test against India.

Inzamam led from the front with an unbeaten 118, his 19th Test hundred and first against India, while Farhat made a stylish 101 as Pakistan finished the second day at 355 for 3 in reply to India's first innings of 287.

Inzamam shared an unbroken partnership of 150 with Yousuf Youhana, who remained unbeaten on 62 after getting two reprieves in a frustrating evening session for the Indians.

"We played well in a tight situation. The wicket was playing well. There was still support for bowlers and Indian bowlers kept a tidy line," Inzamam said.

Youhana had a lucky escape on 38 when the Australian umpire Simon Taufel rejected a caught behind appeal by Anil Kumble. Television replays showed that the ball had taken a faint edge off Youhana's bat.

India's bowlers struggled hard but were rewarded with only one wicket in each of the first two sessions, with Inzamam and Farhat combining to score 110 for the third wicket.

Farhat, a 22-year-old left-hander, hit 14 boundaries. He faced 129 balls compiling his first 50, but sped up the scoring rate after lunch and faced a further 68 deliveries to complete his second century in his 10th Test match.

Pakistan had resumed at 61 for 1 and lost Yasir Hameed (19) in the morning session before reaching 145 for 2 by lunch. Hameed tried a square cut off seamer Ajit Agarkar and got a thick edge to the India captain, Rahul Dravid, at first slip.