BANGALORE, Dec 9: Pakistan found themselves in the same situation as the one they encountered in Kolkata after India piled up 626 in their first innings on the second day of the third and final Test at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium here on Sunday.

In an exact replica of the second Test at Eden Gardens where India hit 616-5 last week, Pakistan were forced to play on the back foot after career-best knocks by Saurav Ganguly (239) and Irfan Pathan (102) in front of a near-capacity turnout on the weekly holiday.

India, who need only a draw here to win their first home series over their arch-rivals for 28 years, are in a strong position.

Pakistan ended the day at 86-1, and still need 341 to avert the follow-on, with Salman Butt (50) and captain Younis Khan (7) at the crease. The tourists started their pursuit of 427 rather shakily as both Salman Butt and Yasir Hameed played and missed several deliveries.

Yasir (19) fell to Anil Kumble yet again letting the pad stay in front of his bat as the Indian captain hustled one through dead straight to win an LBW verdict.

But Salman, regaining his composure after those early jitters, reached a fine fifty just before stumps, striking nine boundaries of which seven came off Sharma.

Earlier, it was India’ show as they resumed the second morning at 365-5 against a toothless attack, minus Shoaib Akhtar, who was present on the field but did not bowl. Younis decided against risking Shoaib, taking into account the muscle spasms the speedster suffered on Saturday.

Karthik, who had looked out of sorts throughout the series, hung on long enough to put on 66 with Ganguly before edging Yasir Arafat to the wicket-keeper after scoring 24 off 70 balls.

Ganguly was now joined by Pathan and by lunch India had added 96 runs with Ganguly on 169 and Pathan 18. After the interval, a slashed boundary through the slips off Sami enabled Ganguly equal his highest Test score, which was 173 against Sri Lanka at Mumbai 10 years ago. And finally the greatest moment in Ganguly’s long career arrived when he scampered the probably fastest two of his life to bring up the magical 200 – a feat that took seven hours and 49 minutes and 324 balls – punching Yasir Arafat deep on the offside.

Runs came at a furious pace as both the left-handers decided it was time to change gears, chalking up India’s 600 in 599 minutes, the last 100 coming in mere 65 minutes off 94 balls. The afternoon session yielded 150 runs in 30 overs.

The whirlwind partnership of 178 in 220 balls — lasting 145 minutes — between Ganguly and Pathan is India’s best for the seventh-wicket against Pakistan.

Pathan pulled Kaneria high into the midwicket stand to bring up a well-deserved maiden Test hundred. Next ball Pathan top-edged the spinner to end the Indian innings. The all-rounder bludgeoned four sixes and 10 fours while negotiating 133 balls during a stay of almost three hours.

Kaneria finished with figures of three for 168, taking his haul to 11 wickets in the series.

Yasir Arafat was rewarded with five for 161 in 39 overs – the eighth Pakistani to take such a haul on Test debut.

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