Pair dig in to earn draw

The Pakistan pair began the final day at the crease and remained there until late into the afternoon session to frustrate the hosts after they had given themselves a scent of victory at the start of Pakistans second innings by reducing them to 10 for three.

The tourists eventually declared on 496 for nine during the final session, leaving India a target of 293.

But they had little chance of getting anyway near that and the match ended with the consent of both captains after Virender Sehwag was dismissed for 36 with the Indian total at 85 for one.

Akmal's 109 earned him the man-of-the-match award, and he also became the fifth Pakistan wicket keeper to score a Test century, and the first to hit a hundred in both a Test and a one-day international.

Akmal and Razzaq began the day with Pakistan on 257 for six and reached 369 without further loss by lunch to give them a 165-run lead.

Akmal claimed his half-century, hitting eight fours on his way to 75 not out at lunch. Partner Razzaq was six runs short of his 50, but he soon reached his fifth Test half-century after the interval.

On 52, Razzaq hit Anil Kumble for six over long on to bring up the 150-run partnership, before Akmal claimed his first Test hundred, which included 15 fours.

His was the first wicket to fall, though, bringing the mammoth seventh-wicket stand to an end.

Home captain Sourav Ganguly had left the field with what looked like a side strain to be replaced by Harbhajan Singh and, in the skipper's brief absence, they managed to remove both Akmal and Razzaq in quick succession.

Akmal tried to drive but hit the ball straight into the hands of Harbhajan at cover to give Laxmipathy Balaji his ninth wicket of the match. Razzaq (71) then edged to stand-in skipper Rahul Dravid at second slip off Kumble.

Mohammad Sami and Rana Naved were at the crease at tea with Pakistan on 459 for eight, and holding a 255-run lead going into the final session.

Yet captain Inzamam-ul-Haq was clearly in no mood to put that lead in jeopardy as the tourists continued with the bat. Sami (10) was caught and bowled by Kumble for his fourth wicket of the innings, before they finally declared with Naved (38) and Danish Kaneria (4) unbeaten.

India progressed to 85 without loss when they were finally put in to bat, but the match was ended after Sehwag charged down the wicket and was stumped off Younis Khan.

Gautam Gambhir was unbeaten on 32 as the opening clash of the three-Test series was drawn.

A magnificent 184-run partnership between Pakistans Abdul Razzaq and Kamran Akmal proved decisive as the tourists salvaged a draw in the first Test with India in Mohali.

The Pakistan pair began the final day at the crease and remained there until late into the afternoon session to frustrate the hosts after they had given themselves a scent of victory at the start of Pakistans second innings by reducing them to 10 for three.

The tourists eventually declared on 496 for nine during the final session, leaving India a target of 293.

But they had little chance of getting anyway near that and the match ended with the consent of both captains after Virender Sehwag was dismissed for 36 with the Indian total at 85 for one.

Akmals 109 earned him the man-of-the-match award, and he also became the fifth Pakistan wicket keeper to score a Test century, and the first to hit a hundred in both a Test and a one-day international.

Akmal and Razzaq began the day with Pakistan on 257 for six and reached 369 without further loss by lunch to give them a 165-run lead.

Akmal claimed his half-century, hitting eight fours on his way to 75 not out at lunch. Partner Razzaq was six runs short of his 50, but he soon reached his fifth Test half-century after the interval.

On 52, Razzaq hit Anil Kumble for six over long on to bring up the 150-run partnership, before Akmal claimed his first Test hundred, which included 15 fours.

His was the first wicket to fall, though, bringing the mammoth seventh-wicket stand to an end.

Home captain Sourav Ganguly had left the field with what looked like a side strain to be replaced by Harbhajan Singh and, in the skippers brief absence, they managed to remove both Akmal and Razzaq in quick succession.

Akmal tried to drive but hit the ball straight into the hands of Harbhajan at cover to give Laxmipathy Balaji his ninth wicket of the match. Razzaq (71) then edged to stand-in skipper Rahul Dravid at second slip off Kumble.

Mohammad Sami and Rana Naved were at the crease at tea with Pakistan on 459 for eight, and holding a 255-run lead going into the final session.

Yet captain Inzamam-ul-Haq was clearly in no mood to put that lead in jeopardy as the tourists continued with the bat. Sami (10) was caught and bowled by Kumble for his fourth wicket of the innings, before they finally declared with Naved (38) and Danish Kaneria (4) unbeaten.

India progressed to 85 without loss when they were finally put in to bat, but the match was ended after Sehwag charged down the wicket and was stumped off Younis Khan.

Gautam Gambhir was unbeaten on 32 as the opening clash of the three-Test series was drawn.