DAY 2, 2ND TEST MATCH. PAKISTAN v INDIA at Lahore

Events that unfolded today clearly indicate that the Pakistan side has truly been quite savagely stung by the horrendous crushing received last week in Multan. The batting wore an unrecognizably determined look and despite the odd blemish (Yasir Hameed's ungainly and injudicious swish as well as Imran Farhat's equally swishy shot) the batsmen grit their teeth and put their heads down like seldom seen in recent memory. Young Imran Farhat led the way in the early part of the day with a determined innings that seemed to sap him of his powers of concentration as he looked like throwing his wicket away at any stage after he reached 90 or so. That he threw his wicket away immediately upon reaching a highly commendable hundred suggests that though the lad is enormously talented, he needs to work on acquiring some steely determination and resolve. Batsmen who thrown their innings away upon reaching personal milestones are often thought of as playing primarily for their own personal glory and though Imran Farhat's effort couldn't be faulted as selfish it was unfortunate that he couldn't muster the powers of concentration and determination that separates a good player from a potentially great one. None the less, Imran Farhat has shown that he has time to play his shots and possesses a handsome array of strokes all around the wicket. If there is a glaring fault it is that he plays from the crease neither moving significantly forward nor taking a significant stride out to meet the ball when playing forward. This is something that Imran needs to work on and the Pakistan cricket management ought to make sure that Imran Farhat isn't wasted like another potentially brilliant batsman like Wajahatullah Wasti was.

Inzamam's innings was probably the most determined one has ever known him to be. He played with a singleminded determination and a resolve that one rarely witnesses from Pakistani batsmen these days. It was easily one of the finest knocks of his career and virtually a flawless one. Not once did his concentration wilt in the sapping heat - and despite all his tactical shortcomings as a leader, today he truly led from the front and was an inspiration to his forces. It was a fantastic knock and one that could have crucially swayed the match in favour of the home side, especially as the pitch is beginning to show some alarmingly low bounce on occasion.

Yousuf Youhana was missing the form that he displayed in Multan and scratched around looking very unsettled and insecure at the crease. He was forunate to survive some vociferous leg before shouts along the way but credit to him for hanging in there despite being in wretched form. The expected cave in didn't materialize as expected for the Pakistani batting order thanks to the efforts of young Imran and captain dependable Inzamam Ul Haq. Tomorrow, the third day is another crucial one if India are to claw their way back into contention. Quick wickets are needed by the visitors in the pre lunch session as they have to stop Pakistan from getting away with a substantial lead as the wicket continues to crumble.

The Indian bowlers toiled manfully under the scorching sun with Balaji especially putting in a couple of fine spells testing the batsmen to the maximum. Kumble lacked penetration and Agarkar looks as though he still needs a match or two under his belt before he rediscovers some rhythm. If India can mop up the Pakistan innings by around lunch time and Sehwag and company get firing then any score of around 250 to get in the last innings will prove a handful as the pitch should be a handful by the last day and a half. However if Pakistan can avoid collapsing and continue in similar vein and somehow Sami and Shoaib have their radars functioning a little bit more efficiently, things could yet get very interesting indeed.

Today, fortune favoured the brave and the Pakistani batsmen definitely enjoyed the rub of the green when it came to umpiring decisions....however funnily enough the two beneficiaries on this occasion were those who were especially hard done by in the previous match! Cricket, like life, tends to be quite an equalizer!!!