The New Nation - Internet Edition

AP, Calcutta

Stand-in captain Younis Khan's composed unbeaten century helped Pakistan secure a draw in the second test against India on Tuesday.

Younis posted 107 not out and shared an unbroken fifth-wicket stand of 136 with Mohammad Yousuf (42 not out), batting through the last session to save Pakistan after four wickets had tumbled cheaply for 78.

Set a challenging target of 345, Pakistan finished on 214 for four to spike India's hopes of clinching the series ahead of the third and final test match which begins in Bangalore on Saturday.

India leads the three-match series 1-0 after winning the first test by six wickets.

"We did well in the end, it has boosted the team's morale for the final test match," said Younis, whose 184-ball knock contained 18 hits to the fence.

Leading by 160 runs in the first innings, India declared its second innings at 184-4 after losing overnight batsmen Mahendra Dhoni (37) and Sourav Ganguly (46), both of whom were clean bowled by paceman Shoaib Akhtar (2-61).

Former captain Ganguly passed 6,000 test runs during his innings. India made 616-5 in its first innings and Pakistan replied with 456.

Indian paceman Zaheer Khan made an early breakthrough by snapping a return catch from opener Yasir Hameed (14) before skipper Anil Kumble bowler Kamran Akmal for 14) and trapped Salman Butt lbw for 11.

Seamer Munaf Patel dislodged the off-stump of Misbah-ul-Haq (six) to leave Pakistan tottering at 78 for four.

Younis said Pakistan faced an uphill task from the moment India passed 600 in its first innings.

He said the sixth-wicket stand between Misbah and Akmal helped Pakistan stay in the match after a top-order slump in the first innings. Pakistan faced a follow-on before Misbah and Akmal revived it by scoring centuries.

"Misbah and Kamran put up a fight that raised hopes of saving the test," the captain said.

Indian skipper Kumble said the track offered no assistance to his bowlers.

"The pitch was pretty flat, it was tough for the bowlers," said Kumble, who believed India would have pushed for a win if the fielders had taken their catches.