By N.Ananthanarayanan
CALCUTTA, India, March 17 - Pakistan vice-captain
Younis Khan believes the second test against India was evenly
poised with three days left after the visitors ended Thursday on
to 273 for two.
Pakistan are 134 runs behind India's first innings total of
407 all out after Younis and Yousuf Youhana smashed unbeaten
hundreds to get their team back in contention at Eden Gardens.
"Now the match is 50-50," Younis said.
"Whether we will be in a position to exert pressure on India
will depend on how we play tomorrow.
"If we can play till tea and get a lead of 150-200, then
India will be under pressure."
Younis was batting on 108 and Youhana was on 101 as they
shared a 203-run unbroken third wicket partnership to dominate
the Indian bowling on a slow pitch.
The duo showed excellent understanding in running between
the wickets in sapping humidity.
"The target was to maintain 3-4 runs an over," Younis said.
Youhana added: "We just tried to hang in there. "We knew if
we could spend time there, runs would come."
It was Youhana's 13th test hundred and the seventh for his
team mate.
Their effort was a big boost for Pakistan after young
wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal hit his maiden test hundred to help
secure a draw in the first test in Mohali.
Younis, 27, had been under pressure after making just one
fifty in six innings during the 3-0 series rout in Australia and
failing to reach double figures in both innings in Mohali.
He admitted to some pressure after Mohali, where he also
dropped two catches at slip, one of them opener Virender Sehwag
who top-scored with 173.
"I went in with a positive frame of mind," Younis told
reporters. "I decided to go and enjoy my cricket and I was
successful."
"The boys backed me, (captain) Inzamam (ul-Haq) backed me
publicly," Younis said.
"He made me knock for two hours two days before the test."