Pakistan rescue draw

Cricket Second TestYounis Khan stroked a masterful, unbeaten century to guide Pakistan to the safety of a draw in the second Test against India in Kolkata.

The stand-in skipper scored 107 and shared in an unbroken, 136-run stand for the fifth wicket with Mohammad Yousuf (44) to help the visitors recover from 78 for four on an absorbing final day.

The visitors finished on 214-4 after being set a challenging target of 345 on a deteriorating Eden Gardens pitch to keep the series alive.

The result means India, who are 1-0 up after winning the opening Test in New Delhi by six wickets, cannot lose the three-match series.

"We would have liked to make it 2-0 here but you have to give it to Pakistan for the way they batted," Indian skipper Anil Kumble said.

"Misbah (ul-Haq) and Kamran (Akmal) in the first innings and (their batting) also in the second innings.

"We wanted to finish the series here and had a great opportunity. But we go to Bangalore 1-0 up and we're looking forward to a 2-0 series victory," Kumble said.

Younis and Yousuf, the mainstays of Pakistan's batting after Inzamam-ul-Haq retired earlier this year, dug in for 37 overs to thwart India in a display of solid technique and terrific concentration.

Younis (30), faced 182 balls in his 214-minute effort for his 15th century and the fifth against India.

The 33-year-old Yousuf faced 110 deliveries.

Scoreboard

Overnight: Pakistan 456 (Misbah-ul-Haq 161 no, Kamran Akmal 119) India 616-5 dec (W Jaffer 202, V Laxman 112 no, S Ganguly 102) and 141-2 (W Jaffer 56).

India Second Innings

M S Dhoni b Shoaib Akhtar 37

S C Ganguly b Shoaib Akhtar 46

R Dravid not out 8

Extras (lb3 nb6)9

Total (4 wkts dec, 42.4 overs) ... 184

Fall of wickets: 1-75 2-95 3-166 4-184.

Bowling: Shoaib 12.4-0-46-2, Tanvir 9-0-41-0, Sami 5-1-28-0, Kaneria 15-0-61-2, Salman Butt 1-0-5-0.

Pakistan Second Innings

Yasir Hameed c & b Khan 14

Kamran Akmal b Kumble 14

Salman Butt lbw b Kumble 11

Younus Khan not out 107

Misbah ul-Haq b M M Patel 6

Mohammad Yousuf not out 44

Extras (b8 lb6 nb4) 18

Total (4 wkts, 77 overs) ... 214

Fall of wickets: 1-22, 2-37, 3-65, 4-78.

Bowling: Khan 8-0-32-1, Kumble 25-4-73-2, M Patel 10-3-21-1, Harbhajan Singh 31-5-67-0, Tendulkar 3-0-7-0. Match drawn.