When Inzamam-ul Haq strode out to the centre on day one of the Bangalore Test, Pakistan were struggling at seven for two. The Indian bowlers were on a high and raring to have a go at the Pakistan skipper, who was playing his 100th Test.
In just a few overs, the complexion of the match changed.
Inzamam's languid approach to life often disguises his fierce competitive spirit. This immensely powerful man threw caution to the winds and counter-attacked superbly. Younis Khan, his trusty deputy, complimented him perfectly.
At the end of the day, the duo had shared an unfinished 316-run partnership and led Pakistan to a formidable 323 for two.
Inzamam is unbeaten on 184, his highest score against India, while Younis is on 127.
Morning session (29 overs, 93 runs, 2 wickets)
Inzamam won the toss for the first time in the series and elected to bat on a barren pitch, expected to help spinners later in the match.
The visitors made two changes, opening batsman Yasir Hameed coming in for left-hander Taufeeq Umar and tall off-spinner Arshad Khan replacing left-arm medium-pacer Mohammad Khalil to play his first Test in nearly five years. India stuck to the squad that won the Kolkata Test by 195 runs.
Pakistan's biggest problem in this series has been inconsistency in team selection. The opening combination and bowling attack has changed in every Test and even those in the team, with the exception of a few players, are unsure about what the future holds for them.
It shows in the way the players bat; they are eager to impress and want to play too many shots. But Test cricket is a patient man's game.
Shahid Afridi has never had patience. He isn't your orthodox opener; in fact, he isn't an opener. He is more of a stopgap solution. In Kolkata, he came off spectacularly in the second innings and had India on the mat before he gave it away.
Here, he edged the first ball he faced -- a straight delivery angling into the batsman -- straight to Rahul Dravid at first slip to give Laxmipathy Balaji his first wicket of the match. Afridi was gone for a duck and Pakistan were reduced to 4 for 1.
Next over, Irfan Pathan got into the act and dismissed Hameed. A good length delivery, pitched just outside the off stump, drew the batsman out. The right-hander pushed at it and ended up with a faint edge straight to the keeper. (7 for 2)
Two wickets in two overs and Pakistan were in big trouble. But Younis and Inzamam batted with such languid ease that one would be forced to believe otherwise.
They showed the true nature of the pitch and also the inadequacies of the opening batsmen.
After one hour of play, Pakistan were 40 for 2 and looking increasingly assured.
The fifty-run partnership for the third wicket came off 102 balls. The running between wickets was again very good, and it was supplemented by Inzamam's superb stroke-play.
Runs were scored on both sides of the wicket and that meant the bowlers were not really maintaining a strict line outside the off-stump. The field placing was fine-tuned, and there were more close-in fielders.
The Pakistan skipper looked very comfortable at the wicket, as he did in the first two Tests as well before giving his wicket away. Will he be able to make it count this time round?
He reached his fifty with a four off Harbhajan Singh in the last over before lunch. It took him 85 balls, including nine boundaries. The 35-year old looked particularly comfortable against the spinners.
Anil Kumble conceded 13 runs off 15 balls while Harbhajan, 18 off 25.
At lunch, Pakistan were 93 for 2, with Inzamam batting on 55 (87 balls) and Younis on 29 (76 balls).
Post-Lunch session (109 runs, 30 overs)
Inzamam and Younis came out after the lunch break all guns blazing. In the first seven overs of the session, 39 runs came at 5.57, which is exactly the scenario India would have been looking to avoid.
Having seen the way the batsmen batted in the first session, Ganguly would have hoped that the break would allow his bowlers to fight back. Instead, the team was sent on a leather hunt by Inzamam, in particular.
After an hour's play in the session, Pakistan had scored 162 for 2. Younis posted his 11th Test fifty off 115 balls, inclusive of six boundaries.
The Indian attack had run out of ideas. Runs were flowing on both sides of the wicket. Inzamam's drives through the cover region were a joy to watch. The pitch is really good for batting at the moment, but the hot weather means that after a day or two the spinners will start to come into play. Till then the batsmen will dominate.
The ideal strategy at this point for Ganguly would have been to cut off the boundaries. The Indians bowlers tried but, maybe, they were guilty of trying too hard, because from almost every bowler a bad ball would come along and the batsmen would take full toll.
Soon the inevitable happened. Inzamam scored his 21st Test century off 131 balls, inclusive of 15 fours, at a good strike rate of 76.3. He became only the fifth player to score a century in his 100th Test.
Pakistan were now firmly in the driver's seat on a perfect batting wicket. There is some turn on this track but it is slow and the batsmen have the opportunity to adjust before they play the shot. It is odd to see a benign track like this for the deciding Test of a series.
At tea, Pakistan were 202 for 2, with Younis Khan batting on 72 (173 balls) and Inzamam on 119 (171 balls). In the 30-over session, the visitors scored 109 runs at 3.63.
Post Tea session (31 overs, 121 runs)
Such was Pakistan's domination in the final session of the day that the match ceased to be a contest. Nothing the Indians tried had any effect on the Pakistani batsmen. The visitors dug in for the long haul; they wanted to make sure that they would not relinquish the advantage late in the day.
The pitch is a belter and one only sees the ball starting to stay a little lower as the match goes on. Only if the Indians bat really badly will we see a result.
But that takes nothing away from the way the Pakistani duo batted. The pitch was easy paced and for the first time in the series the batsmen were driving off the front foot in front of square.
Perhaps, the only other point of interest during the day was the a number of records that fell by the wayside.
The first to go was the 246-run partnership between Hanif Mohammad and Saeed Ahmed in 1960, which was the highest partnership for any wicket for Pakistan in India. Then, Clyde Walcott and Gerry Gomes' record of highest partnership for any wicket against India in India, 267 at Delhi way back in 1948-49, was also overtaken.
This was history in the making and the ease with which Inzamam and Younis played meant that the partnership wasn't going to end anytime soon.
Such was the mastery of the pair that despite the defensive field that was employed by India, runs kept coming at a good pace.
The new ball, taken in the 84th over, was India's only hope of affecting a breakthrough. But even that failed to trouble the batsmen. It was almost as if both were having a knock in the nets.
Inzamam stood like a colossus, oblivious to hype and pressure. His touch was majestic as was his temperament. Younis, at the other end, was the perfect foil. The Pakistan vice-captain, who hit his second Test ton in as many matches, kept taking the singles and feeding the strike to Inzamam. But when the chance to have a go at the bowling came across, he wasn't shy either.
A four off the last ball of the day by Younis ended the day in a fitting manner for the visitors. It underlined the mental state of both teams.
Batsmen generally look to play out the last over and rush back to the safety of the dressing room. But such was the confidence of Inzamam and Younis, that they just didn't want to go off. In fact, the Indians were glad see the last of today.
Inzamam, 184 off 263 deliveries with 25 boundaries, and Younis, 127 off 267 with 12 boundaries and one six, have shared an unfinished 316-run partnership. Pakistan reached a formidable 323 for two at the close of play.
In the 31-over session, Pakistan scored 121 runs. India will have their work cut out in the morning and hope to get one of the overnight batsmen as quickly as possible.
