Younis happy to leave Test even

Pakistani vice-captain Younis Khan believes the second Test against India was evenly poised with three days left after the visitors ended Thursday on 273 for two.

Pakistan are 134 runs behind India's first innings total of 407 all out after Younis and Yousuf Youhana smashed unbeaten hundreds to get their team back in contention at Eden Gardens.

"Now the match is 50:50," Younis said.

"Whether we will be in a position to exert pressure on India will depend on how we play tomorrow.

"If we can play till tea and get a lead of 150-200, then India will be under pressure."

Younis was batting on 108 and Youhana was on 101 as they shared a 203-run unbroken third wicket partnership to dominate the Indian bowling on a slow pitch.

The duo showed excellent understanding in running between the wickets in sapping humidity.

"The target was to maintain 3-4 runs an over," Younis said.

Youhana added: "We just tried to hang in there. We knew if we could spend time there, runs would come."

It was Youhana's 13th Test hundred and the seventh for his team-mate.

Their effort was a big boost for Pakistan after young wicket-keeper Kamran Akmal hit his maiden Test hundred to help secure a draw in the first Test in Mohali.

Younis, 27, had been under pressure after making just one fifty in six innings during the 3-0 series rout in Australia and failing to reach double figures in both innings in Mohali.

He admitted to some pressure after Mohali, where he also dropped two catches at slip, one of them opener Virender Sehwag who top-scored with 173.

"I went in with a positive frame of mind," Younis told reporters. "I decided to go and enjoy my cricket and I was successful."

"The boys backed me, (captain) Inzamam (ul-Haq) backed me publicly," Younis said.

"He made me knock for two hours two days before the Test."