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LAHORE, Jan 14, 2006 (AFP): Shahid Afridi and Kamran Akmal joined Younis Khan and Mohammad Yousuf as century- makers as Pakistan posted a mammoth 679-7 declared in the first cricket Test against India here Saturday.
Afridi hit a blistering 103 off 80 balls and Akmal remained unbeaten on 102 before Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul Haq closed the first innings before tea on the second day.
India, needing 480 to avoid the follow-on, went to tea at the Gaddafi stadium on 65-0 in thirteen overs with captain Rahul Dravid on 22 as his deputy Virender Sehwag on 36.
Younis missed a second successive double century against India by one run and Yousuf hit 173 as Pakistan came close to their highest total against India of 699-5 at the same venue in 1989.
The pair put on 319 runs for the third wicket in just 270 minutes to set the stage for a spectacular run feast by the hosts.
Afridi plundered seven sixes-four of them in successive balls off Harbhajan Singh-and seven boundaries during his fourth Test century.
Akmal enhanced his growing stature as a batsman-wicketkeeper of promise by compiling his third century before Inzamam declared.
Younis, who ended the first day on 147 in Pakistan's score of 326-2, was run out for 199 trying to get to the mark with a risky single.
Younis charged down the wicket after patting the ball to mid-on and could not beat Harbhajan's throw as non-striker Afridi sent him back.
Younis, who scored a match-winning 267 in Bangalore on Pakistan's tour of India last year, hit 26 boundaries during his marathon innings lasting five hours and 30 minutes.
Yousuf smashed 21 boundaries and two sixes before he was stumped attempting another big hit against spinner Anil Kumble.
Kumble struck again in his next over by trapping Inzamam leg-before for one.
Pakistan slipped from 455-2 to 477-5 to give the Indian bowlers temporary respite from chasing leather before Afridi and Akmal resumed after lunch to pound the attack into submission.
Some 12,000 home fans were treated to glorious strokeplay through the day which saw Pakistan score 159 runs off 36 overs in the extended morning session and move from 500 to 600 in only 10.3 overs.
None of the Indian bowlers were spared the pounding. Kumble finished with 2-178 from 39.3 overs, Harbhajan went for 0-176, Irfan Pathan gave away 133 runs for one wicket and Ajit Agarkar took two for 122.
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