Cricket: Spinners bowl Pakistan to victory

BANGALORE, India - Occasional leg spinner Shahid Afridi helped Pakistan to a thrilling 168-run series-levelling win in the third and final test against India.

Afridi grabbed three key wickets for 13 runs on Monday, including that of Sachin Tendulkar for a 140-minute 16 as India, set 383 to win, were dismissed for 214 on a turning fifth-day pitch.

Tendulkar's only consolation was becoming India's highest run-scorer in his 123rd test, overtaking Sunil Gavaskar's 10,122 runs when he steered paceman Mohammad Sami for a single to third man. Gavaskar played 125 tests.

Off-spinner Arshad Khan and leggie Danish Kaneria added two wickets each as Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq shuffled his bowlers around, supported by increasingly attacking fields.

India, 25 for no wicket overnight, started well, Virender Sehwag slamming a flurry of boundaries. The tide turned, however, with his dismissal for 38 in the first session.

The 26-year-old was run out, stranded in mid-pitch after being sent back late by Gautam Gambhir (52) following a misunderstanding over a quick single to Abdul Razzaq at mid-on.

The hosts gave up ideas of going for a win after his dismissal.

Tendulkar held firm at one end but wickets kept tumbling at regular intervals, Rahul Dravid (16), Vangipurappu Laxman (5), Saurav Ganguly (2) and Dinesh Karthik (9) falling in quick succession.

Tendulkar's 98-ball knock came to an end soon after tea, caught at forward short-leg off bat and pad. Anil Kumble slammed eight fours in a 37-run unbeaten cameo.

Earlier, Sami struck soon after lunch, trapping Gambhir lbw with a ball that nipped back.

India vice-captain Dravid was put in all sorts of trouble by Kaneria, who exploited a rough patch outside leg stump.

He was caught at bat-pad by Younis Khan to give Arshad his first wicket of the match.

Laxman batted shakily for 36 minutes before he was trapped lbw by Afridi, making it 127 for four.

Ganguly, booed by the crowd on his way to the crease because of his poor form, was soon back in the pavilion, bowled by Afridi with a ball that turned sharply from outside off.

Kaneria bowled five consecutive maidens, keeping Tendulkar from scoring for 37 balls at one stage, before runs started coming in rare singles.

Tendulkar was dropped when on 11 off Sami just before tea, Asim Kamal failing to hold on to a one-handed catch despite three attempts at forward short-leg.

But the lapse did not cost Pakistan dearly.

Kaneria grabbed the last wicket, having Lakshipathy Balaji lbw with 6.1 overs remaining as the ecstatic Pakistani players ran to uproot the stumps and collect victory souvenirs.

Inzamam, playing his 100th test, had set up an exciting final day's play with a bold declaration on Sunday, leaving the game open for both sides.

The test series will be followed by six one-day internationals.

- REUTERS