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Filed under kolkata test match

If India wins this Indian oil test series as 2-0 or 3-0, they'll rise to 3rd ranked team in ICC test championships!

Win at Delhi and first 2 days of this Kolkata test showed no reason why Indian team wouldn't do the above.. Pakistani team, so far on this Indian tour, have been struggling with injuries, lacks confidence and are way below the experience Indian side possess.

That said - on second test Day 3 today, Pakistan showed why they're always a competitive side when it comes to playing arch-rivals. no matter how many wounds they are carrying!

Already 616 first innings runs in kitty, Indian bowlers got early wickets at Eden Gardens today, reducing Pakistan to 150 for 5 wickets. that's when Kamran Akmal joined comeback man Misbah-ul-Haq, age 33 (who made his test debut in 2001). Together - 207 runs were struck at nearly 4 runs per over. Misbah & Akmal judged every flipper, googly or leggy bowled by Captain Anil Kumble to perfection and negotiated all doosras & straighter ones from Harbhajan Singh.

Kamran Akmal animatedly talked to himself throughout the innings whereas Misbah proved worth of his last name - "ul-haq", which he shares with former Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq (who himself was pillar of a batsman). He had some trouble with Zaheer khan short pitch balls targeting his hips, but strong-mind Misbah survived.

Kamran Akmal, under pressure to perform, displayed phenomenal cover-drives but generated cramps in arms to finally lose concentrating as Harbhajan Singh bowled him from around the wicket.

308 balls, record 207 runs later : Akmal-Misbah's highest 6th wicket partnership at Eden Gardens came to end, giving India a new hope to still push for that 2-0 or whitewash series victory!

India vs Pakistan, second test Kolkata 2007 : End of Day 3 scorecard.
India 1st Innings : 616 for 5 declared.
Jaffer 202, Ganguly 102, Laxman 112*.
Pakistan 1st Inn : 358 for 6, 104 overs.
Salman Butt 42, Hameed 21, Yousuf 6,
Younis 43 (82b 6x4, 6x1), Faisal 0,
Kamran Akmal 119 (210balls, 20x4),
Misbah ul-haq (108balls, 10x4).
Harbhajan 3/86, Kumble 2/81.
At Crease : Misbah & Mohammad Sami.

Notes Day 3
-Kamran Akmal was wearing black shocks. Pakistani commentator - Rameez Raja - pointed it out and then Nimbus (the broadcasters) camera men caught the attention of Match Raferee Ranjan Madhugalle.. 3 overs later, Pakistani substitute came running in and Akmal had to wear another supporter (anklet) over his shocks to preserve his lucky charm - the black shocks!!

-Sticking to Pakistani wicket keeper, Kamran Akmal has 5 test match centuries now and would you believe - 4 of them ae against arch-rival India. Kamran (who, I hear, can eat 2-3 full chicken alone) has now scored most centuries for Pakistan in test cricket as a wicket-keeper batsman. Moin Khan has 4 test 100s.

-Its too early to say that Pakistan have made a comeback into this Kolkata test, but do you know Eden Gardens is one of three most UNLUCKY TEST GROUNDS for India. after Lords & Barbados.. sad story if you're an Indian fan!

- Zaheer Khan has had brilliant 2007. He has 35 wickets so far, making him 3rd best test match bowler this year behind Dale Styen (39) & Monty Panesar with 36 wickets. to tell you little more on Zaheer (age 29 years), has nearly 75% of his 164 test wickets as top order batsman!

Flawless Jaffer stands tall on Day 1 : 2nd test

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Ganguly & Laxman rub it in on Pak : Day 2 story

Akmal - Misbah lead Pakistan fight-back on Day 3

India push for win, Pak eyes draw : Day 4

Gutsy Pakistan earn draw, keep series alive