Third Test : Yuvraj and Ganguly demoralised the Pakistani bowling attack - Day 1

Yuvraj Singh and Sourav Ganguly hammered explosive centuries to lead India's fightback in the third and final Test against Pakistan here on Saturday. Yuvraj celebrated his comeback with a career-best 169 and Ganguly scored a fluent unbeaten 125 as an injury-hit India recovered from a horror morning session to post 365-5 in their first innings at stumps on the opening day.



India were wobbling at 61-4 after winning the toss on a good batting track before left-handers Yuvraj and Ganguly restored their team's fortunes with a 300-run stand for the fifth wicket. The partnership was the highest for the fifth wicket in Tests between the two countries, surpassing the previous best of 213 set by Pakistanis Zaheer Abbas and Mudassar Nazar at Karachi in 1982. Debutant seamer Yasir Arafat jolted India with three important wickets in a tight seven-over opening spell before his side ran into Yuvraj and Ganguly, who counter-attacked to steer their team to safety.



It was one-day specialist Yuvraj's third Test century - all against Pakistan - and Ganguly's 15th, including a second successive ton against the tourists following his 102 in the previous match. Pakistan also suffered a stroke of misfortune when ace paceman Shoaib Akhtar walked off the field after bowling two overs in the afternoon. He was taken to hospital with back pain. Pakistan's team management said the fast bowler's condition would be assessed on Sunday morning before any decision was taken. "I was nervous when we were 61-4. I have never been a confident starter in Test cricket. It gives me shivers because it's a different ball game," said Yuvraj, playing only his 20th Test since his international debut in 2000. "I feel bad sitting out, but it's not easy to replace Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Ganguly and Venkatsai Laxman in the middle order. "I was disappointed to get out. I should have got a double-century, but I am happy I pulled my team out of trouble."



Yuvraj and Ganguly demoralised the Pakistani attack in the last two sessions with a wide range of attacking shots all round the wicket.