India's top order collapse to put Pakistan in control

India 287 and 149-5 Pakistan 489

Pakistan's pace battery ran through the India top-order yesterday, putting the hosts on course for a series-levelling victory in the second Test.

India were left on 149 for 5 on the third day, the opener Virender Sehwag fighting a rearguard action on 86 not out, after Pakistan took a 202-run first-innings lead primarily because of a fighting 73 by the left-hander Asim Kamal.

Sehwag struck 14 fours in his sixth Test half-century but wickets tumbled at the other end as Akash Chopra, Rahul Dravid, the acting captain who was run out for nought, Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Laxman and Yuvraj Singh fell in quick succession with all the Pakistan strike bowlers contributing.

The India wicketkeeper, Parthiv Patel, made a dogged, unbeaten 13 as his side, who had been bowled out for 287 in the first innings, still needing 53 to make Pakistan bat again after the home side made 489.

India lead the three-match series 1-0, and the Pakistan coach, Javed Miandad, has indicated that he may stand down. "I'll review my future with the team once this series is over," he said.

* Waqar Younis is set to announce his retirement. The fast bowler was replaced as the Pakistan captain, then dropped after last year's World Cup.

INDIA - First Innings 287 (Yuvraj Singh 112; Umar Gul 5-31)

PAKISTAN - First Innings (Imran Farhat 101) (Overnight 355-3)
Inzamam-ul-Haq lbw b Pathan 118
Yousuf Youhana c Patel b Balaji 72
Asim Kamal c Patel b Kumble 73
Kamran Akmal lbw b Pathan 5
Mohammad Sami b Pathan 2
Shoaib Akhtar c Yuvraj Singh b Kumble 19
Umar Gul hit wicket b Tendulkar 14
Danish Kaneria not out 0
Extras (b4 lb18 w4 nb16) 42
Total (160.1 overs) 489

Fall: 1-47 2-95 3-205 4-356 5-366 6-379 7-386 8-432 9-470.

Bowling: Pathan 44-14-107-3; Balaji 33-11-81-3; Agarkar 23-5-80-1; Kumble 44.1-5-146-2; Tendulkar 12-1-38-1; Yuvraj Singh 3-0-7-0; Sehwag 1-0-8-0

INDIA - Second Innings
A Chopra lbw b Shoaib Akhtar 5
V Sehwag not out 86
R Dravid run out 0
S R Tendulkar lbw b Mohammad Sami 8
V V S Laxman b Umar Gul 13
Yuvraj Singh c Kamran Akmal b Mohammad Sami 12
P A Patel not out 13
Extras (lb7 w1 nb4) 12
Total (for 5, 40 overs) 149

Fall: 1-15 2-15 3-43 4-88 5-105.

To Bat: I K Pathan, A B Agarkar, A Kumble, L Balaji.

Bowling: Shoaib Akhtar 11-3-37-1; Mohammad Sami 17-5-61-2; Umar Gul 9-1-42-1; Danish Kaneria 3-1-2-0

Umpires: S A Bucknor (WI) and S J A Taufel (Aus).