Laxmipathy Balaji had another wonderful day. Entrusted the new ball by skipper Sourav Ganguly in the second innings after his magnificent 5-76 in the first, he rocked the Pakistani dressing-room with two quick strikes, sending back Taufeeq Umar and vice-captain Younis Khan. Umar was first struck on the pad, and the bowler appealed for leg-before, but the ball hit the back of the bat and ballooned into the air. Balaji suspended his appeal in mid-air to clasp the ball and seal the dismissal. He then bowled a lethal break-back that hit Younis Khan's off-stump. The batsman had all but covered the wickets in trying to leave the ball alone, but the ball darted in so late to confound and consume him. Irfan Pathan then joined the action with a bizarre dismissal, when a bouncer by him kissed a ducking Butt's bat, on the way to Dinesh Kartik's gloves.

At 10-3, 194 runs in arrears, the Pakistani innings was in tatters shortly after Danish Kaneria had terminated the Indian innings for 516 with a brilliant bowling display that yielded him six wickets in all. He became the first Pakistani leg-spinner to take so many wickets in a Test innings in India, a feat that eluded even the legendary Abdul Qadir.

The Indians were positive throughout the day. The batsmen went for their strokes in the morning, with Laxman completing a fifty and Balaji, who is having a dream match, swinging merrily to score 31 at almost a run-a-ball. They achieved their desired objective of gaining a lead of atleast 200.

Seniors Inzamam and Yousuf Youhana resuscitated the Pakistani innings after the juniors had wilted earlier on. Inzamam was outstanding, caressing and thumping the ball around, and looking every inch a batsman who was genuinely apologetic for treating the bowlers so harshly. He knew that his wicket was the key, which is why he made no secret of his disappointment at losing his wicket. Youhana's innings would have done its bit to embarrass the men who were responsible for taking the vice-captaincy away from him before this tour. Younis Khan, his 'successor' has hardly inspired confidence, one can't help but feel that Pakistan will employ a new no. 3 in the second Test at Kolkata. Asim Kamal, who clearly looks a long-term prospect, seems the best bet.

Abdul Razzaq and Kamran Akmal have an arduous task before them on the fifth day. The longer they bat, the closer they will take Pakistan to safety. They will have to contend with a rampaging Indian team and an eager Balaji, with eight wickets under his belt and the new ball round the corner.