BANGALORE - Pakistan's new crisis men Misbah-ul-Haq and Kamran Akmal defied India in an unbroken sixth-wicket stand after Younis Khan's masterly 80 in the third and final test today.
In-form Misbah struck a controlled 54 and Akmal a gritty 32 as the visitors, searching for a series-levelling victory,ended day three on 369 for five, needing a further 58 to avoid the follow-on after India's first innings 626 all out.
The duo came together for a commanding 81-run partnership after seamer Ishant Sharma surprised Faisal Iqbal (22) with extra bounce to be caught at short-leg after the batsman had put on 61 with Misbah.
But Misbah and Akmal, who helped save the second test in Kolkata scoring centuries in a sixth-wicket stand of 207, denied the hosts further success.
India won the opening test by six wickets in New Delhi.
"I think tomorrow's morning session will be important. It (ball) does a bit early morning, this is their last (recognised) batting pair," India's Saurav Ganguly told a news conference.
"The way the wicket is behaving, it will not be easy for their lower-order batsmen," added Ganguly, whose team conceded an Indian record 70 extras.
Younis, stand-in captain for injured Shoaib Malik, shared in two fruitful partnerships after the visitors resumed at 86 for one on a placid pitch.
But his dismissal along with the experienced Mohammad Yousuf (24) in subsequent overs saw Pakistan lose control in the second session.
Resuming at seven, Younis took his overnight second-wicket stand with Salman Butt (68) to 90 and then shared in an entertaining stand of 72 with Yousuf for the next wicket.
Left-handed Butt fell half an hour before lunch when he edged Ganguly behind.
Younis, who scored a century in the drawn second test in Kolkata, batted with controlled aggression for his 20th fifty.
The Indian attack, without key pacemen, looked largely ineffective barring some inspired bowling by Sharma.
Younis, who hit 12 fours in his 156-ball effort, was bowled by Harbhajan Singh trying to reverse sweep.
Yousuf fell in the same over in which he had a verbal duel with home skipper Anil Kumble standing at gully. He drove at an away-swinging delivery from Irfan Pathan for Yuvraj Singh to take a low catch at point.
