Fireworks from Afridi set up thrilling finish

Some breathtaking batting from Pakistan in their second innings set up a thrilling finish in the third Test with India.

Some breathtaking batting from Pakistan in their second innings set up a thrilling finish in the third Test with India.

The match looked to be heading towards a draw when Pakistan finally dismissed India for 449 just after lunch on day four to establish a lead of 121 after some stubborn resistance from VVS Laxman and Anil Kumble.

However, the tourists were not finished.

Eager to level the series, Pakistan's batsmen then bludgeoned the Indian attack to reach 261 for two before declaring after 50 overs.

India then staged a mini counter-attack of their own to reach 25 without loss at stumps off six overs to leave themselves 358 runs short of victory with a full day still to play.

Gautam Gambhir had made 19 and Virender Sehwag six but it was the Pakistani batsmen who had really provided the highlight of the day.

Shahid Afridi's electric 58 - his 50 came off 26 balls to set a new Pakistan record - set the tone and Yasir Hameed, Younis Khan and Inzamam-ul-Haq also blazed away at the Indian attack.

When Afridi attempted one attacking stroke too many to be stumped by Dinesh Kartik for 58 off 34 balls, he had hit eight fours and two sixes and Pakistan had already made 91.

Hameed and Younis continued the offensive until Hameed departed for 76 when he was trapped lbw by Kumble.

Younis, who made 267 in the first innings, had hit an unbeaten 84 at the declaration while Inzamam had raced to 31 off 32 balls.

Afridi's 50 was one ball faster than the one scored by team-mate Yousuf Youhana in Cape Town in 2003 and is joint second best all-time with Ian Botham's effort in 1981-2 against India at Delhi.

That mark was beaten by Jacques Kallis against Zimbabwe in Cape Town earlier this year when the South African managed to reach his 50 off 24 balls.

Earlier Kumble's 53-run partnership with Laxman had held up Pakistan's determined charge.

Kumble was the last Indian wicket to fall as he was bowled by Afridi after a dogged 22 while Laxman was left unbeaten on 79.

Resuming in the morning on 379 for six, India had already done enough to ensure they had avoided the follow-on.

The first wicket to tumble was that of Irfan Pathan, who tried to slog out at Mohammad Sami but only managed to direct the ball to the hands of Youhana who gathered the chance at point.

Pathan had made five while India were reduced to 386 for seven as Harbhajan Singh joined Laxman at the crease.

The total had advanced by only two with Harbhajan notching a solitary single when he too perished to a wild shot.

The spinner tried to drive Danish Kaneria over mid-on but his shot was well held by Abdul Razzaq.

Lakshmipathy Balaji did little better and had made only two in a stand worth eight runs before he also fell to Kaneria who took his fifth wicket of the innings as he was caught by Kamran Akmal at the wicket, trying to sweep.

Umpire Billy Bowden's decision, nevertheless, looked a harsh one.