Honours even on absorbing day

Pakistan 312 (Asim Kamal 91, Balaji 5-76) v India
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
How they were out

Asim Kamal and Inzamam-ul-Haq produced innings of considerable class and character to ensure that Pakistan didn't succumb in the face of some disciplined bowling from India on the opening day of this much-anticipated Test series. After slumping to 191 for 6 at tea, Pakistan were finally bowled out for 312, with Kamal dismissed 15 minutes before stumps for 91. Earlier, Inzamam had cudgelled a captain's innings of 57 after Sourav Ganguly has inserted the opposition on a green-tinged pitch and made immediate inroads. For India, the indefatigable Laxshmipathy Balaji, hair flopping as though in a shampoo commercial and cheered lustily by his many fans, picked up 5 for 76.

Kamal laced some lovely drives as he moved towards a maiden century, but Balaji, the pick of the Indian seamers, shattered those dreams of three figures with a delivery that darted back through the gate to crash into off stump (301 for 9). Kamal trudged off disconsolately, but got a standing ovation that was richly deserved. Despite the personal disappointment, he had been instrumental in lifting Pakistan to a total that might yet ask questions of India's fabled batting.

Pakistan had made a scratchy start in the morning, despite Irfan Pathan starting off with a wide and looking distinctly lackadaisical. At the other end, Zaheer Khan charged in with menace and purpose, shaping the ball in beautiful semi-ellipses away from the left-handers. But it was Pathan who gave the crowd the opportunity for a first loud bellow, when he cleaned up a clearly nervous Salman Butt, (5) with a ball that did little in the air or off the pitch (11 for 1).

Younis Khan, the heir-apparent to Inzamam's throne, started off with a streaky edge and a delicate glance, but his habit of shuffling across his stumps was to cost him dearly as Zaheer got one to land in line with leg stump (30 for 2).

At that stage, with Taufeeq having survived two confident leg-before shouts from Zaheer and resembling the proverbial cat on a hot tin roof, India were firmly in the ascendancy - Ganguly's decision to take the field with three pace bowlers seemingly an inspired one.

But Inzamam, who was greeted with a bouncer by Pathan, soon eased his way into the action with a fluid cover-drive for three off Zaheer, and though he subsequently edged twice to the third-man fence to the bowler's anguish, they were interspersed by a square-drive that was languid elegance personified.

Balaji replaced the pallid Pathan as Ganguly opted for variety to pick the lock, but Pakistan were soon motoring as Taufeeq uncorked two sumptuous drives and sent them down the ground. The introduction of Kumble didn't stem the tide either, as the fifty partnership took just 67 deliveries. Then Taufeeq flailed at a Balaji delivery that crashed into the stumps off the inner edge, and Youhana's hesitant prod at an away-swinging delivery from Pathan soon after lunch sent Pakistan a couple of steps nearer the precipice.

Inzamam had resumed after lunch by cutting Pathan behind point for four, and then stroking a yorker down to the long-off boundary with wondrous timing. And while Kamal commenced his innings with a coruscating pull and a less-than-convincing hook, he soon settled down to play a steady role alongside Inzamam, who was beginning to bat with the majesty that he's capable of. Apart from a fortuitous edge that evaded the slips off Pathan's bowling, he was seldom troubled, easing to 50 with a splendid straight-drive off Zaheer.

Yet again, it was left to that old game-breaker, Kumble, to strike the most decisive of blows. Inzamam was a fair way forward, but the delivery struck him low on the pad and Rudi Koertzen gave the decision - influenced perhaps by Inzamam's failure to play a genuine stroke (156 for 5).

Abdul Razzaq, never at his best against the slow turning ball, came in and attempted to hit his team out of trouble, and a couple of meaty blows off Kumble and a classy drive past point hinted at better things, only for the crudest of flirtations outside off stump to end his 24-ball 26 (191 for 6).

With one hand firmly on the jugular, India would have harboured visions of restricting the opposition to 250 or fewer. But with Kamran Akmal proving a doughty foil, Kamal demonstrated that the green blades of grass harboured no demons. Having pulled and cut to great effect in the early part of his innings, Kamal started to drive like a dream against the soft old ball. Pathan was twice stroked down to the sightscreen with imperious disdain, and a cover-drive off Zaheer was played with flourish. Apart from a difficult chance that VVS Laxman dropped when he had made 79, it was an innings with few blemishes, and much to admire.

Akmal chipped in with 15 before Kumble had him caught at slip, and Mohammad Sami tonked Kumble about with relish before Balaji, armed with the second new ball, got one to dart away off the seam and clip off stump (282 for 8). But the seventh and eighth wickets had added 91 to negate India's early advantage, and suggest that no white flags would be waved as they had been at Multan and Rawalpindi last year.

Salman Butt b Pathan 5 (11 for 1)
Played inside a Pathan delivery while statuesque on the crease. The ball did just enough to beat the bat and crash into off stump.

Younis Khan lbw b Khan 9 (30 for 2)
One that pitched in line with leg stump cannoned into the pad halfway up. Younis's clumsy shuffle across probably helped Rudi Koertzen make up his mind.

Taufeeq Umar b Balaji 44 (89 for 3)
Ball pitched on a good length, and Taufeeq, as he had done for much of his innings, flailed at it unconvincingly and got an inside edge.

Yousuf Youhana c Karthik b Pathan 6 (104 for 4)
The seeds of doubt had been planted by earlier deliveries, and a tentative prod at a delivery that seamed away a touch was his undoing.

Inzamam-ul-Haq lbw b Kumble 57 (156 for 5)
Looked bitterly disappointed at being given out, but his failure to play a stroke to a ball that pitched in line cost him. Got a good stride forward, but the ball struck low enough on the pad to convince Koertzen.

Abdul Razzaq c Karthik b Balaji 26 (191 for 6)
A senseless swipe at a fairly wide delivery as tea beckoned. The way he had played, it was only a matter of time before he went down in flames.

Kamran Akmal c Dravid b Kumble 15 (239 for 7)
A regulation slip catch after a thick outside edge.

Mohammad Sami b Balaji 20 (282 for 8)
Beaten by a peach from Balaji, who darted the second new ball away just enough to crash into off stump.

Asim Kamal b Balaji 91 (303 for 9)
Bowled by one that darted in through the gate after attempting a drive with minimal footwork.

Rana Naved-ul-Hasan lbw Balaji 11 (312 for 10)
Trapped leg-before by one that nipped back a shade.