This happens all the time. In soccer, when a team dominates possession, but fails to score, the other team usually gets one chance and scores. How many times have you seen this before ? In any sport, and particularly in test cricket, you have to take your chances. If you don't, it will come back to bite you in the ass!

I am afraid, the Indian players have brought this upon themselves. You cannot let a team get to 245 from 39/6. Sorry boys, you just cannot. The Indian innings ended at 238, giving Pakistan a lead of 7 runs. Saurav and Yuvraj weathered the initial storm and as the pitch was about to ease, they threw their wickets away. In fact, had the Pakistani fielders not dropped atleast 4 clear chances, our predicament would have been a lot worse. Irfan got 40. The top score was Yuvraj's 45.

One has to admit that the Pakistani bowlers bowled very well but this batting lineup should do a lot better. Mohd. Asif has been a revelation. Shoiab's softening up of the batsmen has played a big role in Asif and Razzaq taking wickets.

Saurav did pretty well against Shoaib, only to fall, yet again, to an attempted pull/hook. Some things never change. He played some pleasing off-side strokes and could have done better. The 34 runs he scored are not going to help decide the outcome of his never ending saga that I am totally fed up of. Buddy, either blaze a double hundred or fall for naught in the second inning. This whole drama is detrimental to the team and we need closure.

I am very disappointed with Sachin too. If he is going to shut up all the people who say that he does not perform when the team needs him the most, he has to come up with something special in the second inning. I believe he can do it, but seeing is believing!

A word about the bowlers. They bowled far too short and let the team down. I keep saying that they cannot bowl short at their pace and they keep doing it. Movement was available all day and there should be no fear in pitching it up. That's how they got the early wickets, isn't it?

Pakistan are 173/2 for a total lead of 180. The first session on day three will probably decide this test. There will be some juice in the pitch every morning and if we do not take early wickets, it will be virtually impossible to come back. The pitch is still good for batting, but with so much time left, a result is a certainty.

I am afraid, we are looking down the barrel here and it will take something special to get out of this one. Times like this are the true test of a team's calibre. Remember Kolkata 2001?