The duo looked to have ridden out the storm when a pearler from Asif, almost a rapid off-break, beat Laxman's defences to hit middle-and-off.

BBC: Akmal continued his superb recent form to defy the Indians

Younus Khan continued the theme of aggression but, just as he seemed to be dominating, left-armer RP Singh went around the wicket and produced an inswinging pearler to knock him over for 21.

BBC: By Jonathan Stevenson