THE FOURTH DAY PAKISTAN v INDIA 2nd Test at Lahore

The clouds that were hovering and even rumbling at 6am gradually evaporated into memory as the sun turned on the afterburners. An expectant crowd had showed up at the Stadium while most of the visitors from abroad turned up in the hope that Virender Sehwag might cause another minor miracle. For the first time in the series Shoaib Akhtar looked as though he wasn't carrying some sort of burden and steamed in delivering the searing pace of old. Sehwag, the potential destroyer of dreams was the first to succumb playing a mile away from his body, carving away in that characteristically buoyant manner. Irfan Pathan received three of Shoaib's most spiteful deliveries and couldn't handle a fourth. Patel played on, displaying resolve and ability while Agarkar, a century maker against Australia recently, leant good support as the tail wagged and took India took a slender lead. The introduction of Danish Kaneria hastened a tail end collapse and the home side was left with just 40 to win - even recent nightmares in Sharjah against Australia not so long ago when Pakistan was bowled for scores of 59 and 60 respectively.....surely there wouldn't be a repeat performance. Imran Farhat's was the only loss as the Pakistani's won by a 9 wicket margin. Deserving winners having displayed a resolve and a steel that has long been missing in a Pakistan outfit. Inzamam truly led by example with his tremendously focussed innings and the with Shoaib and Sami seemingly turning the corner with some pretty fearsome spells towards the end of the match, the visitors batting order will have a fearsome battle on their hands in Rawalpindi. Let's hope the crowds show up to support the series decider and that it is a fitting climax to a thrilling and utterly absorbing series.

There might be a change or two for the final Test with a question mark over Taufeeq Umar's form who might give way to Imran Nazir. Whether Shabbir plays in place of Kaneria is another query. The Indian side is likely to bring in Ashish Nehra for Ajit Agarkar who lacks match fitness and it is possible that Chopra might get the chop to accommodate the skipper now that Ganguly has publicly stated that Yuvraj Singh will play.

A mouthwatering prospect awaits in Rawalpindi.