Pakistan face defeat despite Inzamam's valiant knock

Pakistan 312 and 257 for 6 (Inzamam 86, Youhna 68) lead India 516 (Sehwag 173, Tendulkar 94, Kaneria 6-150) by 53 runs

Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
How they were out

Inzamam-ul-Haq and Yousuf Youhana produced defiant and beautiful innings, while Asim Kamal reprised his first-innings heroics with an assured 48, but by the end of the fourth day, Pakistan were still staring at an ignominious defeat, 53 runs ahead with only four wickets in hand. Lakshmipathy Balaji, who followed up his 5 for 76 in the first innings with another superb exhibition of swing and seam bowling, did the early damage, but it was the peerless Anil Kumble who winkled out the big two, trapping Inzamam leg before and bowling Youhana off his boot.

Inzamam had driven, bludgeoned and caressed his way through a sublime innings, and with Youhana offering stylish support, Pakistan whittled away at the 204-run deficit with real purpose until Kumble stepped in to have a say. When Inzamam was dismissed mere minutes before tea, the pendulum once again swung sharply towards India, but Kamal added 44 with Youhana, and 50 with Abdul Razzaq - who sacrificed reckless flair for some much-needed circumspection - to keep hope afloat. Again, it was Balaji that turned destroyer, getting Kamal with a delivery that should serve as an example to his team-mates and opponents on how to bowl in such conditions.

The early afternoon had been all about Inzamam. To say that he batted beautifully for his 86 would be an understatement. He eased his bulk into some gorgeous drives, and timed the ball with a sweetness that lesser lights couldn't even fathom. A back-foot punch through cover off Zaheer Khan screamed magnificence, as did the almost casual step-out-and-loft that sent a Kumble delivery soaring over the fence at long-on.

His mastery also inspired the best of Youhana, who overcame some early tests against Irfan Pathan to play some superb drives and flicks himself. When the two of them were adding 139 - their eighth century partnership together - at better than four an over, there were quite a few furrowed faces in the Indian camp. The ease with which they batted also illustrated just how well the pitch was playing, and how hard the bowlers had to work for their rewards.

Kamal's too was a fine hand. Dropped twice by Rahul Dravid off Kumble's bowling almost as soon as he came to the crease, he celebrated the second reprieve with a delicate late-cut and two splendid off-drives in successive deliveries. Youhana's departure didn't stem the momentum either, with a calculated heave for six over midwicket giving Pakistan the lead. He drove as fluently as he had in the first innings, and was only troubled occasionally by the guile and variations of Kumble.

It had been all India when Pakistan emerged to wipe off a 204-run deficit an hour before lunch. Balaji had struck in his first over, with Taufeeq Umar sending back a loopy return catch. And when Younis Khan bizarrely shouldered arms in his next over, Pakistan were once again off to the stumbling start that they have become accustomed to in recent times. Salman Butt's inability to keep his bat down while ducking added to their woes, and Balaji could well have caused more trouble had a couple of edges from Inzamam gone to hand.

The top-order debacle took the sheen off what had been a good session for Pakistan, with Danish Kaneria the morning star. VVS Laxman stroked his way to 58, and there was an entertaining 31-run cameo from Balaji, but Kaneria dominated proceedings, picking up all four wickets to fall in an engrossing 80-minute passage of play.

Pathan started the day with two well-timed pulls and a fluid cover-drive for four off Rana Naved-ul-Hasan, but his decision to give Kaneria's googly the charge was a poor one, resulting in a regulation stumping for Kamran Akmal (465 for 7). Balaji, who arrived to a rousing reception, wasn't about to go quietly though, and after a streaky edge had got him going, he picked off 14 in a Kaneria over that included a cracking square-drive and the sort of cover-drive which would have left a top-order batsman mighty chuffed.

In next to no time, he had added 42 with Laxman, and it was left to Kaneria - who doesn't seem perturbed by anything - to induce an edge off a legbreak (507 for 8). Laxman, who had eased past 50, departed soon after, bowled while trying to smash a googly away, and when Zaheer patted a return catch back a few seconds after the drinks break, it was all over with India 204 runs in the black. Pakistan knew that they needed to survive at least four sessions to make a match of it, but despite minor masterpieces from Inzamam and Youhana, bitter defeat is likely to be their lot in Mohali.

Pathan st Akmal b Kaneria 13 (465 for 7)
Charged a googly and played inside the line, stumped by yards.

Balaji c Akmal b Kaneria 31 (507 for 8)
Edged a legbreak to the keeper.

Laxman b Kaneria 58 (516 for 9)
Bowled off the inside edge trying to cut a googly away.

Zaheer c&b Kaneria 0 (516 for 10)
Drove back a tossed-up delivery.

Taufeeq c&b Balaji 4 (6 for 1)
The ball looped off the pad and brushed the back of his bat on the way back to the bowler.

Younis b Balaji 1 (10 for 2)
Offered no shot to a ball that pitched just outside off stump and darted back in.

Salman c Karthik b Pathan 5 (10 for 3)
Caught behind after ducking a bouncer that didn't rise, with his bat pointing skyward like a TV antenna.

Inzamam lbw b Kumble 86 (149 for 4) Had a good stride forward but, as in the first innings, he was rapped low on the pad while not really attempting a stroke. Darrell Hair upheld the appeal after a moment's thought.

Youhana b bowled Kumble 68 (193 for 5) A defensive prod trickled onto the stumps via the pad and the back of his boot.

Kamal lbw b Balaji 48 (243 for 6) Trapped plumb in front by a full delivery that swung in and moved off the seam.