(Updates after close)
By Sanjay Rajan
KOLKATA, India, Dec 2 - Misbah-ul-Haq and Kamran
Akmal scored battling hundreds to steer Pakistan to 358 for six
against India on the third day of the second test on Sunday.
In-form Misbah, who struck 108 not out, and keeper-batsman
Akmal with 119 shared in a 207-run sixth-wicket stand after the
visitors had lost four wickets in the morning session at Eden
Gardens.
Harbhajan Singh dismissed opener Salman Butt (42) and
Mohammad Yousuf (6) in successive overs to leave Pakistan
struggling initially in their reply to the hosts' imposing
first-innings total of 616 for five declared.
But Misbah scored his maiden century in his ninth test and
Akmal his fifth in his 37th to deny India further success until
after 62 overs and help carry their team to 59 runs short of
avoiding the follow-on.
Akmal was bowled by an off-break by Harbhajan for the
bowler's third wicket after a remarkable innings.
The visitors had resumed on 50 for one after a double
century by Wasim Jaffer and hundreds by Saurav Ganguly and
Vangipurappu Laxman put India in a commanding position.
Harbhajan, operating with four men in catching positions,
induced Butt to edge to Rahul Dravid at first slip and then
bowled Yousuf through the gap between bat and pad with a
big-spinning off-break.
Munaf Patel sent back stand-in skipper Younis Khan for 43
and leg-spinner Anil Kumble dismissed Faisal Iqbal for nought to
leave the visitors reeling at 154 for five at lunch.
The visitors were without captain and batsman Shoaib Malik,
who is nursing an ankle injury.
Younis stitched a 49-run stand for the fourth wicket with
Misbah before flashing at Munaf to edge behind and Iqbal fell
lbw to Kumble.
The 33-year-old Misbah, who hit 10 fours, was solid in his
204-ball stint and Akmal plucky in his 210-ball innings as they
combined to frustrate the Indian attack who were hoping to seal
the series after victory in the first test.
Akmal, dropped on 87 by Munaf at fine-leg, outscored Misbah
in the latter half of the innings, reaching his hundred with a
boundary off Munaf and kissing the turf before raising his bat
in celebration.
It was the 25-year-old's fourth century against India and
his first in 15 tests. His effort contained 20 boundaries.
The hosts won the opening test by six wickets and the final
test will be played in Bangalore next week.
(Editing by Rex Gowar)