Indian batsmen build mammoth total

12 April 2012

Pakistan have it all to do to avoid the follow-on after the second day of the third Test in Bangalore was dominated by the masterful batting of Sourav Ganguly and Irfan Pathan.

India were eventually all out for 626 after an amazing maiden double-hundred by Ganguly and a first Test ton from Pathan.

Pakistan were 86 for one in response at stumps. Yasir Hameed was the man out, trapped leg before wicket playing half-forward to Anil Kumble for 19.

His opening partner Salman Butt ended the day unbeaten on 50 - his sixth Test half-century - along with Younus Khan who was seven not out.

Despite the solid start, the tourists still trail by 540 runs and need another 341 to avoid the possibility of being asked to immediately bat again following India's mammoth effort with the bat.

Having started the day 365 for five, the hosts continued from where they had left off as Ganguly piled on the runs in the morning session.

He had been formidable on Saturday alongside Yuvraj Singh, who smashed 169 following his recall to the Test team. The only wicket to fall before lunch was that of Dinesh Karthik, whose knock was ended on 24 when he got an outside edge to wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal off the bowling of Yasir Arafat.

Pathan was next to come in and build a partnership with the left-hander - the pair shared a 178-run stand for the seventh wicket. Ganguly was then finally dismissed just before tea when he was bowled around the legs by Danish Kaneria for 239. As well as bettering his highest Test score and notching his first double-hundred, the 35-year-old also passed 6000 Test runs.

Pakistan finally managed to clean up the India tail with three quick wickets shortly after the tea interval, with Pathan becoming Kaneria's third victim of the innings as he went for one big hit too many and was easily caught by Akmal for 102.

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