Batting for a second time, the visitors, who again lost star opener Saeed Anwar cheaply for 7, were 18 runs ahead at 34 for one, when umpires stopped an already extended day's play six overs short.

Defending a small total of 238 and faced with a threatening reply by the new Indian opening pair, left hander Sadagopan Ramesh and VVS Laxman, Pakistan snatched the initiative when Saqlain dismissed Sachin Tendulkar for a duck off just three balls.

But for valiant knocks from No 3 Rahul Dravid (53, 152 min, 5x4, 1x6), southpaw Saurav Ganguly (54, 213 min, 3x4, 2x6) and a useful unbeaten 25 by recalled all-rounder Sunil Joshi, India would have been in dire straits. Ganguly and Dravid propped the Indian innings with a 53-run stand for the fifth wicket, but thehosts lost their way to be reduced to 188 for seven as Saqlain applied the brakes. But Ganguly and Joshi applied themselves and ensured India the lead with an invaluable 41-run partnership for the eighth wicket.

Pakistan got off to an ominous start, losing Anwar when the score was 11.Anwar played forward to Venkatesh Prasad and was trapped plumb in front as the ball cut back off the seam.

The situation would have been worse had Sadagoppan Ramesh held on to a chance offered by Shahid Afridi off Srinath in the next over. Trying for a big hit, Afridi's pre-determined shot only saw the ball take the leading edge, but Ramesh at mid-on was a trifle late to react.

But India's innings soon folded up as Srinath and Prasad fell in quick succession. Afridi polished off the tail with a three-wicket burst in the space of 20 balls. Srinath tried to glide a faster one from the leg-spinner and Ijaz Ahmed at slip plucked it with elan (246 for 9).

Venkatesh Prasad lasted for eleven balls before he was stumped by MoinKhan, the decision announced by the third umpire. Joshi's unbeaten quarter century came in 67 balls and contained four hits to the fence.

Scoreboard

Pakistan (1st innings): 238

India (1st innings; overnight 48-0): Sadagopan Ramesh lbw Akram 43, Venkata Sai Laxman lbw Akram 23, Rahul Dravid lbw Saqlain 53, Sachin Tendulkar c Malik b Saqlain 0, Mohd Azharuddin c Haq b Saqlain 11, Saurav Ganguly c Ahmed b Afridi 54, Nayan Mongia st Moin Khan b Saqlain 5, Anil Kumble c Youhana b Saqlain 4, Sunil Joshi not out 25, Javagal Srinath c Ahmed b Afridi 10, Venkatesh Prasad st Moin Khan b Afridi 4; Extras: (2b, 2lb, 18nb): 22. Total (all out in 81.1 overs): 254

Fall of wickets: 1-67, 2-71, 3-72, 4-103, 5-156, 6-166, 7-188, 8-229, 9-246

Bowling: Akram 20-4-60-2, Younis 12-2-48-0, Saqlain 35-8-94-5, Afridi 7.1-0-31-3, Nadeem 7-0-17-0

Pakistan (2nd innings): Saeed Anwar lbw Prasad 7, Shahid Afridi batting 16, Ijaz Ahmed batting 11. Total (for 1 wkt in 8.5 overs): 34

Fall of wicket: 1-11

Bowling:Srinath 4.5-0-18-0, Prasad 4-1-16-1