Younus Khan's century set Pakistan up for a nail-biting victory over India in Mohali to level the one-day series.

India hit 321-9, their best at the venue, with Sachin Tendulkar (99) and Gautam Gambhir (57) leading the way and Harbhajan Singh slogging 38 not out.

Pakistan were in trouble in reply but Younus (117) and Misbah-ul-Haq (49) put on 102 for the fifth wicket.

Shahid Afridi and Sohail Tanvir saw them home, Afridi hitting the winning run off the penultimate delivery.

By Mark Mitchener

606: DEBATE Have your say on the action in Mohali

E-mail tms@bbc.co.uk (with 'For Mark Mitchener' in the subject), text 81111 (with "CRICKET" as your first word) or use 606. (Not all contributions can be used)

1736: The presentations see Sachin Tendulkar presented with a plaque for playing 400 ODIs (this was his 404th), while Salman Butt is presented with the "Hit of the Match" award (!) and Umar Gul is recognised as the bowler of the match. Unsurprisingly, Younus Khan is named as man of the match.

And I'm pleased to say I'll be in the chair here on Sunday morning for the third match in the series. Play is due to get under way at 0330 GMT - and I hope you'll be around to keep me company! You know you want to! Thank you all for your e-mails and good night.

"Another nail-biting finish to yet another electrifying India-Pakistan encounter. That's what you expect whenever two arch-rivals meet, no surprise. It's a work morning here in Denver, US and instead of working, I am sitting on my computer and refreshing my browser. Many thanks to Mark and BBC team for bringing it together for me(us). Good job Mark and Pakistan"
Gagan Bahri in the TMS inbox

1725: Well... all I can say is "wow". It seems India-Pakistan matches are never even remotely dull.

"Thanks for the commentary Mark. No witty remarks from me, just a brief thought about what a great game cricket is!"
John, from football-mad Padova in football-mad Italy, in the TMS inbox

"I literally jumped around the office for the last run... excellent stuff from both teams and glad Pakistan made it out on top"
Aadi from Manchester in the TMS inbox

PAKISTAN WIN BY FOUR WICKETS - SERIES LEVEL AT 1-1

49.5 overs - Pkn 322-6
Will Afridi finish it in style? He takes a step back and there's a misfield in the covers - Pakistan win with one ball to spare!

49.4 overs - Pkn 321-6
Tanvir works the fourth ball to backward square leg for a single. Scores level.

49.3 overs - Pkn 320-6
Another play-and-miss from Tanvir! A well-disguised change of pace from Pathan. Two needed from three balls.

49.2 overs - Pkn 320-6
Surely it's Pakistan's to lose from here? But a wideish one outside off-stump evades Tanvir - two needed from four balls.

49.1 overs - Pkn 320-6
Irfan Pathan to bowl the last over - six runs needed from six balls. Four wickets remaining, if that comes into play. But I told you Tanvir was a capable hitter - he strikes the first ball, which is a full toss, as a first-bounce four to midwicket.

49th over - Pkn 316-6
RP Singh takes the penultimate over, and Tanvir takes a sensible single off the first ball. Afridi could win this in three or four hits. He tries to hit RP straight, but it goes straight to mid-on and only one run is possible. So, 15 needed from 10. Tanvir guides the third ball to square leg and another single ensues - 14 needed from nine. Afridi goes deep again - and smashes a six over long-off like a baseball slugger hitting a home run to right field. He can only manage a single off the next ball, but they only need seven from seven now. The last ball is also a single from Tanvir. And you've guessed it - I'm going ball-by-ball for the last over!

48th over - Pkn 305-6
Zaheer Khan is on for his last over, and Tanvir drives him back down the ground for a single to bring Afridi on strike. Will we see some fireworks now? Almost - he swipes Zaheer to wide long-on and although sub fielder Rohit Sharma looked to have stopped the ball just inside the boundary (while they ran three), the third umpire rules that his hand touched the rope, to it's four. Buoyed by that, Afridi hoists a shorter ball towards cow corner for four. That's 25 needed from 15 balls. Amazingly, he now tries the Misbah/Ashraful unorthodox legside scoop - but times it perfectly and it goes for another four - so 21 needed from 14! Zaheer goes around the wicket, Afridi scoops one high into the air but it falls safely as it grounds just millimetres short of the diving Yuvraj. They run two. Afridi then bludgeons the last ball to midwicket where they take two despite some good fielding by Harbhajan. So that's 17 needed from 12. Anyone's game.

47th over - Pkn 288-6
New batsman is Sohail Tanvir, who's a competent clean striker of the ball as viewers of the World T20 may remember. RP tries a yorker which Tanvir works off his legs and it evades the short fine leg fieldsman for four. He off-drives the last ball to long-off, so that's 34 needed off 18 balls. India, would you believe, were 287-8 at this stage!

46.4 overs - WICKET - Misbah-ul-Haq b RP Singh 49 - Pkn 283-6
RP's back on as the three left-arm seamers rotate. The first ball is a chest-high full toss to Misbah - didn't look a deliberate beamer (and RP immediately raises his hand in apology to Misbah) but it is nevertheless called a no-ball. Misbah takes a single off the next ball, but Afridi plays and misses at the second legitimate ball, before carving a single down to long-on. Pakistan coach Geoff Lawson is pacing up and down in their dressing-room. Misbah then goes for the same "Ashraful"-style legside flick that did for him in the World Twenty20 final - and is bowled by RP as he prods it onto his stumps. Oops.

46th over - Pkn 280-5
Of course, at this stage of the innings, not only was that a wicket - but also of course, a dot ball. But Pakistan now have the big-hitting Shahid Afridi at the crease! It's all happening in Mohali. Afridi prods his first ball into the leg side for a single. Misbah off-drives to long-off again, but India will be happy to concede singles at this stage. Afridi angles the fifth ball of the over to square leg for a sharply-run two. But they can't get the last ball away - 42 needed from 24 balls.

45.2 overs - WICKET - Younus b Zaheer 117 - Pkn 276-5
A low full-toss from Zaheer is worked away for a single to Misbah - and then Younus is bowled leg stump by the second ball of the over. A slower ball, which Younus missed - and a huge wicket. However, he has equalled Nathan Astle's record of the highest ODI score on this ground.

45th over - Pkn 275-4
Pakistan now need 53 off 36. More good running as Younus hits Pathan away to leg and Misbah is quickly back for the second run. He then prods-and-runs a single to the same area. Misbah works a single away and then Younus clubs a sharp single to cover to bring up the pair's century partnership. The fifth ball is a dot but Misbah off-drives the last ball to long-off where they take another single. India, out of interest, were 279-8 at this stage - before Harbhajan's late onslaught.

44rd over - Pkn 269-4
RP Singh replaces Zaheer. He restricts them to singles off the first two balls. Younus hits the third ball into the air over the covers, but safely, and another single ensues. They decline a single off the fourth ball, non-striker Younus scampers back but he was well in despite the throw hitting the stumps. Another slight hesitation between the wickets, but Misbah hits another single. The last ball of the over is a long-hop which Younus guides to backward square leg, but just one run is taken, so that's five from the over.

43rd over - Pkn 264-4
A big over for Pathan now, with 68 needed from 48 balls. Misbah works him to square leg for two, taking on Gambhir's arm but making his ground. A careful caress of a shot, backward of square leg also brings two. The next ball is straighter but a forward press brings a quick single for Misbah, who's really starting to pick up now. Centurion Younus is on strike, and he tries a slightly unorthodox legside flick which runs out of Dhoni's reach and shoots down to the fine leg boundary for four. Fine leg is brought up, square leg goes back, and this time Younus plays and misses for a dot ball. He then digs out a better length ball for a single, pinching the strike - 10 from the over.

"Mark, just started a new role and am supposed to be making a good first impression, do you think they'll be impressed by how quickly I can press F5?!"
Amir, in a stuffy Preston office, in the TMS inbox

42nd over - Pkn 254-4
OK, 83 needed from nine overs. Misbah has 25 from 25 balls, in true Neil Fairbrother single-off-every-ball style. He tries a more adventurous, lofted drive off the returning Zaheer - Uthappa runs towards it and tries a despairing dive, it would have been a very good catch if he'd taken it - but it just evades him and goes through for four. He then works him for two to leg, and then a single. Then, good running brings a third run to Younus from a similar heave to midwicket as RP Singh and Sehwag combine on the boundary. Misbah bludgeons a four to cow corner, and takes a single off the final ball. A mammoth over for Pakistan.

41st over - Pkn 239-4
Last 10 then - 91 runs needed. Even I can work out the required run-rate from that. Irfan Pathan returns to the attack - he's got four overs left so he may bowl the next four from this end. Misbah pushes a single, Pathan is lucky not to be charged with a wide outside off-stump, so he sends in a bouncer which is easily called as an aerial wide. Younus lifts one down to short fine leg where it falls just short of Zaheer Khan - shades of the World Twenty20 final? A single from Misbah gets Younus back on strike, and he finally reaches his hundred (off 99 balls) with a four, and some Pakistan subsitutes reward him by bringing him on a drink.

"I'm lucky I'm working from home, this is nail-biting cricket"
Nisar Karim in the TMS inbox
[I suppose that's better than nose-picking cricket - MM]

40th over - Pkn 231-4
A well-disguised slower ball from Ganguly nearly deceives Younus, who pushes it into the air but it falls safely for a single. Misbah then carefully punches one back through midwicket for four to bring up the 50 partnership. Some more good running brings two from a prod to square leg, and after Misbah dabs a single, Ganguly's last ball... isn't his last ball because it's a legside wide. We've had a few of those today. The last legitimate ball is prodded to mid-on - dot ball. Nine from the over.

39th over - Pkn 222-4
Harbhajan trots in for his last over, and he nearly pins Misbah down with a good yorker. Another reverse sweep sails away towards third man, but they can only take two. Afridi, padded and helmeted in the Pakistan dugout area, is tapping his foot against the ground. Six runs from the over - Harbhajan finishes with 2-65 from his 10 overs.

38th over - Pkn 216-4
With two overs still needed from the fifth bowler's allocation, Ganguly returns, and Younus carefully lifts him over the cover fieldsmen for four. Will India start feeling the pressure now, given that Pakistan still have Shahid Afridi to unleash for one last onslaught? Younus is farming the strike pretty well - Misbah has been in for five overs and he's only faced 13 balls.

"Mr Mitchener, cheers for these updates. I've written in a couple of times, especially during Twenty20 (been drunk at the office as well when we won), and it's nice to see us doing well in ODIs as well. Dhoni for (Test) captain! No matter what trophies, competitions, etc, a victory over Pakistan is always great"
Sumit, St. Louis, USA, in the TMS inbox

37th over - Pkn 207-4
Harbhajan wheels away for his ninth over, and Younus "goes deep" with a hoisted six over midwicket to bring up the Pakistan 200. Misbah almost topples over when he reverse-sweeps for a single, but it's a better over for Pakistan as Harbhajan also sends down a legside wide. The next ball also fizzes down the leg side and is called wide, but Dhoni whips the bails off and appeals for a stumping. The third umpire says "not out", and that's 14 runs from the over.

36th over - Pkn 193-4
Younus pushes RP for two and then a single as Dhoni, now bare-headed, rotates his field. Misbah takes a well-run two when he pushes through the covers. Three dot balls, so that's five runs from the over and the required rate is up to 9.21.

"Mark you're forgetting this is India and Pakistan playing... anything is possible! I'm sitting at my desk biting my nails down to nothing!"
Farzana in the TMS inbox

35th over - Pkn 188-4
Harbhajan continues with his eighth over, and the singles continue to flow. 134 runs are now needed from 90 balls, and the TV pictures have thankfully returned.

"How do I get a cushy job like yours? Type a few lines of commentary, publish a few inane messages and deflect proposals from Sarah"
Robin, Toronto, in the TMS inbox
[Cushy? I'll think of that when I get here at 0230 on Sunday morning for the next ODI! And I got called a muppet earlier for commentator's-cursing Tendulkar and Butt! - MM]

34th over - Pkn 182-4
The TV pictures from Mohali are temporarily lost due to a thunderstorm in the area, leaving me rather up a creek. But I'll do my best - RP Singh returns, replacing Tendulkar who is withdrawn from the attack after that one, expensive over. Meanwhile, wickets continue to tumble at the SA-NZ match - if it was the County Championship, the pitch inspectors would be on their way there already! RP opens with a wide, and both Younis and Misbah continue to nurdle the singles. Another legside wide also boosts Pakistan's total - that's 43 runs from wides so far across both innings.

"Just caught up on the match, it's only 8.30am here in New Mexico. Thanks to the BBC for providing a lifeline to a sport that I really enjoy watching, even if I don't understand it completely (yet)"
Terry of Alamogordo in the TMS inbox

33rd over - Pkn 176-4
The new batsman is Misbah-ul-Haq, who impressed me a lot in the World Twenty20. He and Younus grab a single each.

32.4 overs - WICKET - Malik c Pathan b Harbhajan 25 - Pkn 174-3
Harbhajan lets one go and some clean hitting from Malik despatches him for four. But Harbhajan has the last laugh as Malik tried to hoist the next ball over long-on and it goes straight down Pathan's throat. He's a safe fielder, but he didn't even have to move his feet. Malik (and his luminous pads) depart.

"Are there any stats of games changing the course in the batsmen's favour after 35 overs (when 'new' old ball is taken)? It did swing things bowlers' way today in the first innings but that was more due to poor strokeplay I guess"
Parag in the TMS inbox

32nd over - Pkn 170-3
It's a change of bowling - Ganguly's off after seven overs, and Tendulkar's on. He can bowl off-breaks, leg-breaks or medium pace, and it looks like he's trying a combination of at least two if not three of those. Malik takes a single, then Younus slog-reverse-sweeps and despite Gambhir's despairing attempt to stop the four with his foot, a four is given after consultation with the third umpire. There's no question about the next ball though, as Younus sweeps, ump Shastri signals six even though it looks like it bounced once inside the rope. After a chat with the third umpire though, the signal is rescinded and re-signalled as four (if you follow that). 11 runs from the over.

"If Malik is wearing 1992 colour pads, it might bring some good luck to the team at this difficult time"
Qaisar, at work, in the TMS inbox

31st over - Pkn 159-3
It's 167 needed off 20 overs, and I suppose in a Twenty20 match that would not be thought to be too hard! A tidy over from Harbhajan sees the batsmen take two singles each, and a much-needed drinks break is taken.

30th over - Pkn 155-3
Younus brings up the 150 for Pakistan as he carves a four past point. He then bends over to pour the sweat out from under his helmet, and it's fair to say the helmet had obviously been welling up! Ganguly sends down the umpteenth wide of the day, but Pakistan are still happy to push the singles. The fifty partnership comes up.

"As you do 'over by over' commentary, you could always have icons for the run rate per over, changing to required rate for the second innings... along with the obvious 'a dog's just run onto the pitch' icon that is"
Andy, Yorkshire, in the TMS inbox

29th over - Pkn 147-3
Harbhajan appears to be wearing a maroon T-shirt under his sky blue India shirt, and Younus takes two off his first ball as RP Singh is a little slow to react in the field. He and Malik continue to "tip and run" singles, and Younus reaches his 50 (off 61 balls) with a single off the final delivery.

28th over - Pkn 140-3
Younus and Malik seem happy to keep pushing the singles at that stage - the required run rate is well up over eight an over now. Then, Younus tries to hook but gets a top-edge and it flies just over the rope for six! Didn't think Ganguly was that quick! Some good fielding by Yuvraj keeps the scoring down, will he get a bowl today?

"Maybe Shoaib Malik's pads are like a captain's armband so you know who he is"
Adam, following the cricket at work, Nottingham, in the TMS inbox

"We're losing this, I'm just following it for the emails"
Soban Bashir in the TMS inbox

27th over - Pkn 132-3
Younus and Malik rotate the strike with a single apiece, before Younus profits from a reverse-swept four. Two more singles are taken, while the camera alights on Shoaib Akhtar, who looks like he hasn't slept in a week. As my colleague Paresh Soni points out, this is a day-night match, so he can't have had to get up that early this morning!

"There should be a graphic of an umpire with a donkey's head for when they make an ass of themselves with decisions like Uthappa's lbw"
Jasvinder Singh in Windsor in the TMS inbox

26th over - Pkn 124-3
Malik works Ganguly to leg for three before Younus gets a slightly fortuitous edge that even evades the speedy Irfan "Boundary Fox" Pathan at third man. Another edge just evades Dhoni's grasp behind the stumps and they run one.

"It seems clear to me that a spitfire swooping in (even I can do that in powerpoint) is a priority, for every time Sarah from Canterbury sends in an email, and one for Sarah Bucks of her choosing (is there one that represents a graduate job-searching?). They are the obvious 'icons' of modern live text cricket, a clear inspiration to generations of cricket-obssessed semi-layabouts"
Paul in Lancs in the TMS inbox

25th over - Pkn 116-3
Malik steps away to leg before firmly cover-driving Harbhajan to the boundary off the back foot. That's the first four for six overs. Malik and Younus keep the singles ticking over, and we're at the halfway point - Pakistan need 206 off the final 25 overs.

"What about a 'commentator's curse' icon... to be used only when fate is being tempted..."
Ben (clutching at straws) in Accounts in the TMS inbox

24th over - Pkn 109-3
Malik tickles a single off Ganguly, as does Younus, and Ganguly responds by bringing in a slip for Malik. He raps Malik on those aforementioned pads, but umpire Shastri says "not out". Maybe the pads are left over from a road safety campaign (they'd certainly be visible in the dark), or have been coloured in with a highlighter pen?

23rd over - Pkn 106-3
It's time for skipper Shoaib Malik to enter the fray. He is wearing pads that are a much brighter light green than any of his team-mates' - are they captain's perks pads? If you can remember the colour of the Pakistan shirts at the 1992 World Cup (which they won), they're that colour. All the other Pakistan players' pads are the same colour (dark green) as their trousers. Anyway, he takes a single off his first ball.

22.5 overs - WICKET - Yousuf st Dhoni b Harbhajan 12 - Pkn 105-3
Younus opens up with a prodded single to leg off Harbhajan. But after two more singles are added to the score, Harbhajan strikes with his doosra as Yousuf is drawn in and stranded yards out of his ground, and Dhoni completes the stumping.

"Regarding special graphics, a Monty Panesar running jumping high-fiving wicket icon must take first priority!"
Olly, bored in the Wharf, London, in the TMS inbox

22nd over - Pkn 102-2
Some impressive fielding from Pathan saves a couple of runs when Younus dabs one down to third man, earning him the applause of bowler Ganguly. Younus attempts a similar shot but they only take one - although it takes Pakistan into three figures. Pathan is the busiest man on the field at third man, as Yousuf works Ganguly for a single there. Another single to long-on from Younus completes the over.

21st over - Pkn 97-2
It's Turbanator time as Harbhajan takes the ball, with Dhoni standing up to the stumps and donning a helmet. Younus and Yousuf scratch around for a couple of singles, while Yousuf tries a reverse-sweep but misses the ball and Dhoni whips the bails off. Yousuf's anchored in his ground though.

"Re: the commentator's curse of Mr Butt in the 12th over and that of Mr Tendulkar. You don't learn do you?!"
Andy, Yorkshire, in the TMS inbox

"There definitely needs to be a 'nelson' graphic... preferably one that moves and shows the umpire hopping from one foot to another"
Sarah, Bucks, in the TMS inbox

20th over - Pkn 94-2
Yousuf and Younus have a little trouble getting Ganguly away, and just two singles come from the over. That's it for the powerplays, and the Proteas are all out against the Kiwis in Jo'burg.

How to get BBC Sport on your mobile or PDA

"What a game this is turning out to be. I'm sitting at uni watching the game on my mobile phone. thank god for technology that I don't miss a thing"
Harjit Gill in the TMS inbox
[Indeed - don't forget you can follow BBC Sport on your mobile, PDA or handheld device wherever you are - MM]

19th over - Pkn 92-2
Yousuf works Pathan away past backward point for four, while he works another single to leg.

"Listening to Mozart's Symphony 38 (The Prague) and reading cricket commentary from the BBC along with tea, hot scones and jam with the outside temperature at 5 degrees!! Ahhhhh.... THE LIFE!!"
Joe, Pennsylvania, USA, in the TMS inbox

"Tendulkar is indeed the only person to be out on 99 in ODIs more than once (this being his third time, all since June). The last three before him to be out on 99 were Ireland's Eoin Morgan, West Indies' Chris Gayle and England's Andrew Flintoff against India. Best get back to this essay now!"
Simon, Dublin, in the TMS inbox

18th over - Pkn 87-2
An interesting change of bowling as medium-pacer Sourav Ganguly becomes the first right-arm bowler to enter the attack. He wobbles it around a little against Yousuf, who tries a full-blooded cover drive which strikes sub fielder Rohit Sharma on the knee. A painful way to keep the scoring down to a single. Younus smashes one to the point boundary where Gambhir gets his body behind it and restricts them to two.

17th over - Pkn 84-2
Yousuf survives another leg-before shout from Pathan, who's swinging it well back into the right-hander. He works Pathan away to leg for a single, and the left-armer has his third lbw shout in quick succession, this time against Younus - but Mr Gould isn't having it.

"Talking of umpire icons could you do some special Billy Bowden ones particularly for a wicket?"
Angus from Guernsey in the TMS inbox
[It would be nice - but I wouldn't get your hopes up. It took me ages for them to make me a "Bad Light" graphic. But what other cricketers or umpires do you think should have their own special graphics? A Rudi Koertzen "slow finger of death"? - MM]

16th over - Pkn 83-2
India take the third powerplay, while replays of the lbw shout in the previous over indicate Yousuf may be lucky to still be at the crease. Younus and Yousuf (memo to self - mustn't confuse the two) exchange singles off Zaheer.

15th over - Pkn 81-2
New batsman is Mohammad Yousuf. The chinstrap of his helmet not only keeps the helmet on, but keeps his beard under control too. There's a big, big lbw shout to his first ball, but Gouldie is unmoved.

14.5 overs - WICKET - Butt b Pathan 37 - Pkn 81-2
After Butt works Pathan away for a single, a sightscreen malfunction delays play for a minute or two. Pathan's radar is as off as most of the other bowlers in this match as he sends down another wide - already the ninth of the innings. But the radar's fixed as Pathan changes his action slightly and sends down an off-break which brushes Butt's front pad and knocks his stumps over.

"In a game like this I think 'Boom Boom Afridi' will be the difference. As I pretend to do my work in a shabby council office in London, I really hope we can pull one back or my Indian colleagues who otherwise have little interest in cricket will start bragging, making my slow productivity even slower!"
Jamal Khan in the TMS inbox

14th over - Pkn 78-1
Zaheer, who has the makings of a goatee-in-progress covering his chin, still hasn't quite found his best length as Younus nurdles him away for a single. A better delivery sees Butt dig one out of the blockhole and they run through for a single. He rounds off the over with a straighter delivery which Younus can only prod away.

13th over - Pkn 76-1
Yet another wide from Pathan, while elsewhere in the world of cricket, South Africa are losing wickets so quickly against New Zealand that it looks like a highlights show. Food for thought ahead of England's visit to NZ in the spring... Back in Mohali, Butt cracks one through his favoured gully region for another four, before he glove-punches with Younus in the style of Paul Nixon (and others). Interestingly, India were 71-1 at this stage.

"There was a saying - catches win matches. Seems it has changed to wides win matches... but the number of extras is a concern for India too"
Romit Acharya in the TMS inbox

12th over - Pkn 71-1
RP's off, and Zaheer's changed ends. Younus works him away for a single, and Butt finds the gap through the offside field again for four - will it be dubbed "commentator's curse" if I point out that he's been timing the ball beautifully today? He picks up a single to keep the strike.

"Re 8th over: And how many others like Ben are losing the will to live to such an extent that they actually scrolled down to check the umpire graphics?!"
Rohan (watching the game live, yet for some strange reason unable to turn the live commentary off), in the TMS inbox

11th over - Pkn 65-1
India take the second powerplay - they can have two fielders outside the circle for the next five overs. Butt takes advantage by nudging a four to fine leg, before Pathan lets a loose one go which Butt despatches with a firm pull to midwicket for four. He's on 26.

"Dear Mark, Rob in Wolverhampton and Jerry Maguire, "Hello". I am indeed living in the middle of an internet-free hell. I had consoled myself with the thought that I should be reconnected, so to speak, by the time the opening delivery is launched (hopefully not Harmy-esque) in the First Test, thus not missing any live commentary... imagine my woebegone expression when Sarah from Bucks texted that the clockwatch had returned... life is even crueller than I imagined. I am only here now briefly as my lovely new colleagues at the Kent Spitfires Study Centre (whoop whoop!!) have allowed me to use a computer... love to you all..."
Sarah, internetless and attempting to bear this with fortitude in Canterbury, in the TMS inbox

10th over - Pkn 57-1
A lofted on-drive from Younus yields a four which brings up Pakistan's half-century. RP sends a couple of wides across the right-hander's reach, leaving Harbhajan (who is wearing a sunhat over his turban) to have a polite word with umpire Shastri. Younus steers a single to third man before RP strays again with the third wide of the over to left-hander Butt. He rounds off the over with a single to third man.

9th over - Pkn 48-1
A change of bowling as Irfan Pathan - the third left-arm seamer in the India attack - replaces Zaheer. He's not as quick as the openers, but bowls very tidily, with one single to Younus the only blemish on his figures. He took 4-37 here against Sri Lanka once.

"Hello Mark! Sorry to only just join you, but I have had an irritatingly large amount of work to do today. Indeed, my productivity levels shot up like a frightened rat up a drainpipe after the wonderful Rugby World Cup blog ended. How the devil are you sir?"
Carole in Maidenhead in the TMS inbox
[Apart from the four-and-a-half-hour commute this morning (see earlier), I'm fine - MM]

8th over - Pkn 47-1
Younus on-drives and pushes for a comfortable three runs, but that's it from the over. Fielder Robin Uthappa summons the India physio for some attention to a knee problem.

"Is it an optical illusion that the umpire icon in over 40 (of the India innings) is slightly larger than the one in over 39? Or do you really use a separate icon to match each individual umpire? Amazing attention to detail!"
Ben (losing the will to live) in Accounts, in the TMS inbox[They are identical, I promise! - MM]

7th over - Pkn 44-1
Butt digs a yorker out which Zaheer appears to deflect towards the stumps at the bowler's end where it hits, but luckily Younus was in his ground. They run a single. Younus is off the mark with a single, and Butt powerfully guides one between gully and cover point for four.

"Shouldn't Pakistan have been deducted some overs for bowling their 50 so slowly? C'mon India!"
Piyush in the TMS inbox

6th over - Pkn 38-1
New batsman Younus (formerly known as Younis) Khan, recently of Yorkshire, sees off the rest of the over.

5.3 overs - WICKET - Akmal c Yuvraj b RP Singh 13 - Pkn 38-1
Akmal nudges a two off his legs and then scampers a quick single. There's a direct hit at the bowler's end and the third umpire (rather needlessly) is called upon to give him "not out", although they managed to run a second on the overthrow anyway. But then it's the end for Akmal as he flicks one straight to Yuvraj at backward point.

5th over - Pkn 34-0
Butt nearly plays on to his stumps, but trots through for a single, while Akmal works one off his pads with the same result. Butt gets an edge just wide of second slip which flies away to the third man boundary for four, and then cuts loose with a cross-batted pull to cow corner for four. Is this the new, improved Salman Butt?

4th over - Pkn 24-0
RP strays with the fourth wide of the innings but otherwise keeps it tight against Butt, who made 50 in the first game of this ODI series, despite being dropped midway through the World Twenty20 after some tortoise-like slow scoring. He eventually nudges a single, while Akmal glances a four which just evades the tumbling Zaheer on the boundary.

"MM - Can you update the 'listeners' on the fates of Dirs and Fordyce since their triumphant tour of France in Le Bloggernaut?"
Andrew Gilchrist in the TMS inbox[They're both back safe and sound - Dirs was in his element over the weekend, doing live coverage on the Joe Calzaghe fight]

3rd over - Pkn 18-0
Zaheer has a big lbw shout against Akmal as he shuffles across his stumps, but former Sussex stumper-turned-umpire Gould is unmoved. Akmal again pierces the offside field through the vacant gully region, and they run two.

2nd over - Pkn 16-0
There's no Sree Santh in action today, so it's another left-armer, RP Singh, taking the new ball from the other end. He has two slips in for Butt, who nudges a single to rotate the strike on a left-hand/right-hand basis. Akmal goes over the top, lifting a loose one over the ring of cover fielders for four. He takes a single off the last ball.

"It's my wife's birthday today. I was thinking that I was gonna go home from work a bit earlier today, but then I won't be able to follow the cricket. So, sorry honey... I'll come home as soon as the Indian innings is over. Happy birthday! PS I'll buy a cake!"
Bikramdeep Singh Pannu in the TMS inbox

"As a club level cricket coach it has been become clear that international cricketers rarely if ever demonstrate the long barrier"
Barry, Bromley, in the TMS inbox

1st over - Pkn 10-0
With barely enough time to lift a sandwich, umpire Ian Gould signals "play" for the Pakistan innings. Gouldie is in action straight away as left-arm seamer Zaheer Khan is way off line with a legside wide to open the innings, followed by another that's not quite as wide (but is still signalled as such). Opening up for Pakistan are Salman Butt and Kamran Akmal, but after one legitimate delivery Zaheer sends down another wide. Is there something in the water there in Mohali today? Zaheer then beats left-hander Butt's outside edge with a jaffa, while we finally have a run off the bat when Butt runs one down to third man for a single. Zaheer has an lbw shout against Akmal which brushes off his pad and sails away for four leg-byes. But he is restricted to two off the final ball when Sehwag makes a good diving stop at third man. 10 runs off a very eventful first over!

1258: This is likely to be a short interval because of Pakistan's slow over-rate (31 wides, three no-balls), so I'm off for a scooby snack. Be back soon.

INDIA INNINGS

50th over - Ind 321-9
Last man RP Singh jogs to the crease with four balls left. His first stroke is an orthodox off-drive for a single which gives Harbhajan the strike. He goes for a legside pull, which is fielded at midwicket as they run two. A slightly more unorthodox swipe over long-on for six makes this India's highest ODI score at Mohali, while a single completes the innings. "The Turbanator" finishes with 38 not out from just 20 balls.

49.2 overs - WICKET - Zaheer run out (Akmal) 9 - Ind 311-9
Anjum takes the last over and Zaheer digs out a first-ball yorker. Dot ball. He then swings and misses, goes for a run, is sent back and run out by a direct hit from keeper Akmal.

49th over - Ind 311-8
Shahid Afridi has to return for his last over, and Harbhajan clearly relishes the duel with his fellow spinner as he lifts Afridi over his head for a first-bounce four. Three more singletons mean it's seven off the over.

48th over - Ind 304-8
If making hay is on Harbhajan's agenda, he's certainly succeeded as after hitting the first ball for two, he picks up a short ball from Anjum and lifts it over midwicket for a huge six. After yet another wide is added to the Indian total, Harbhajan then digs out a good yorker into the covers and they run two. Another single takes them to 299, and a mighty blow by Zaheer through point brings a boundary and the magic figure of 300. A single off the last ball means he keeps the strike - 17 runs from the over.

47th over - Ind 287-8
Shoaib's last over, and Zaheer is completely confused by a slower ball. Should India look to see him off, and then try to make hay against the lesser bowlers in the last three overs? Zaheer seems to think so as he plays and misses a couple of times, and prods at the last one as Shoaib finishes with a maiden over and figures of 3-42.

46th over - Ind 287-8
A glorious shot as Harbhajan pulls Anjum to midwicket for four and while he admires the shot, accidentally collides with the bowler in mid-pitch. Another let-off in the field allows him a single, and Zaheer then skies one into the air which just evades the scampering Akmal. The singles flow and eight runs are taken from the over.

45th over - Ind 279-8
Harbhajan takes a single to round off the over afer swinging and missing.

44.2 overs - WICKET - Pathan c Yousuf b Shoaib 7 - Ind 278-8
Pakistan have put the brakes on a bit here, and even Shoaib's running back to his mark here. He takes his third wicket of the innings when Pathan tries to hook a short one by takes his eyes off the ball, gets a top edge and it goes straight down the throat of the splendidly-bearded Mohammad Yousuf at long leg.

44th over - Ind 277-7
Pakistan have now bowled the equivalent of four extra overs with all those wides and no-balls as Tanvir sends another one wide of Harbhajan's reach. He prods a single to third man, and Pathan takes two to the cover sweeper. Harbhajan clubs one towards cow corner where they run three, think about a fourth but decide against it as Mohammad Yousuf does the fielding.

43rd over - Ind 268-7
The new batsman is Harbhajan Singh, and he has to defend a short ball from Shoaib but runs through for a single to get off the mark. Pathan also takes a single as Misbah-ul-Haq's boundary throw fizzes in and prevents them taking two.

42.1 overs - WICKET - Dhoni c Akmal b Shoaib 4 - Ind 266-7
Has Dhoni got a "Samson losing his hair and losing his strength" thing going on? Having made just four, he hits a tame catch which is snaffled by Akmal behind the timbers.

42nd over - Ind 266-6
I'm getting a bit tired of typing this, but Tanvir has just bowled yet another wide! Dhoni, whose mighty locks are now a thing of the past, and Pathan prod a couple of singles as Pakistan hurry round in the field.

41st over - Ind 263-6
The new batsman is Irfan Pathan, while Pakistan's slow over-rate leaves them needing to bowl 10 overs in 10 minutes. After that wayward over last time around, Shoaib comes in off a short run but it doesn't stop him firing in another wide. A couple of singles round off the over.

"Yikes! I emailed a friend and asked him what odds on for Tendulkar getting another 99 and out and I have won a tenner! But as an Indian supporter I think I will donate it to the jittery 99 club - Tendulkar must hold the all time record for 99's by now to add to his already impressive CV. Come on boys do the business!"
Bhavash Vashi in the TMS inbox[I didn't think anyone said 'Yikes' apart from Shaggy in Scooby-Doo - MM]

40th over - WICKET - Uthappa lbw b Tanvir 0 - Ind 260-6
The new batsman is Robin Uthappa, but more poor cricket sees Tanvir send down the umpteenth wide of the innings. The next ball is a lot better as he comes around the wicket and gets one to swing prodigiously. The last ball hits Uthappa low on the pad, and the replay suggests that not only did it hit him outside off-stump, but the ball may have been missing off-stump. But all it will say in Mr Uthappa's career records is a round nought.

39.4 overs - WICKET - Yuvraj c Gul b Tanvir 34 - Ind 259-5
Yuvraj takes two off Tanvir before he on-drives for a single. Dhoni, who has hardly faced a ball, takes a single himself but then Yuvraj hoists Tanvir straight to Umar Gul a few yards in from the midwicket boundary. He'll be disappointed there, as he'll have wanted to see the innings through.

39th over - Ind 255-4
Shoaib returns. Will his bowling be better than his fielding? Not at first glance, as Yuvraj glances a wide one to fine leg for four, before yet another wide is signalled to the crowd's delight. Shoaib goes around the wicket to the left-handed Yuvraj, who has the sightscreens moved as Pakistan's over-rate just gets slower and slower. It's not the Rawalpindi Express's day as he lets fly with another legside wide. Yuvraj and Dhoni exchange singles before Shoaib sends down two more wides - that's four this over. The 10-ball over finally ends having yielded 11 runs.

"With all this talk of planes flying overhead, it there any chance we will find out who is the 'David Gower' of this game? (please bear a thought for Hugh Morris who was also in that plane with aforementioned David, but who never played for England again. A case of being dropped for non-cricketing reasons....)"
Craig G. Senior in the TMS inbox
[I think you'll find it was not Hugh but John Morris, now Derbyshire's director of cricket - MM]

38th over - Ind 244-4
The new batsman is Mahendra Dhoni, and the first ball of the over sees some inept fielding from Shoaib Akhtar as Yuvraj works Tanvir to long leg and it goes straight through Shoaib's legs. Don't they teach the "long barrier" any more? A single takes Yuvraj to 25 - that's the only other scoring stroke from the over.

37th over - WICKET - Sehwag b Afridi 25 - Ind 239-4
The camera shows the series trophy on the boundary. It's quite large, as many of these trophies are, but it seems to have a "mini-me" trophy next to it. Might that be for the man of the series? Sehwag and Yuvraj bring up a carefully-composed fifty partnership as the singles and twos begin to flow freely again - until Afridi finally makes a breakthrough when he sends one down which beats Sehwag for pace and bowls him.

36th over - Ind 234-3
Sohail Tanvir returns to the attack for his sixth over, and Yuvraj nearly runs himself out when Sehwag sends him back but Tanvir's throw to the striker's end is wide of the stumps. A comedy moment ensues when a sprawling stop at cover only succeeds in pushing the ball further away as the batsmen run through. Yet another extra as Tanvir oversteps for a no-ball, and the free-hit ball is a little wide but Yuvraj works it into the covers for a single.

35th over - Ind 230-3
Afridi takes the "new" (used) ball and Yuvraj slips over while turning for a second run. While he has treatment, the Pakistan physio gives Shoaib Akhtar a quick leg massage on the boundary, and on the Indian balcony, our old friend Sree Santh (who's not playing today) offers a red rose towards the camera. Is this a new, softer side to him, or will it be all "hard stares" and frenzied appeals when he next bowls? We'll see. Anyway, Yuvraj is all right, but Afridi sends down the 21st wide of the innings. Can't think coach Geoff Lawson will be happy with that figure.

"For your info, Network Rail only own the tracks and it has nothing to do with what is run on it, but we do monitor and exercise for future grants of route on the performances of rail companies. Remember, we cancelled the Virgin Cross Country route"
Waseem, from Network Rail, in the TMS inbox
[That's told me then - MM]

"You have given every thing to Sachin - most number of ODI runs, most centuries in ODIs, most half centuries in ODIs, and many more. Do you think he deserves another one? Most 99s in cricket? Please bless him with a single run when he is on 99 next time please! Diwali was a bit painful this year with Sachin missing a well-deserved 100"
Ramaraju P in the TMS inbox

34th over - Ind 224-3
Under the new ODI rules, this is the last over with the old ball, and it's entrusted to Gul - for whom this is the 10th and last of his spell. Yuvraj flicks a single to leg, and Sehwag prods into the covers for the same result. Yet another wide is signalled, and then Gul has another go at his fielders when Yuvraj dabs an easy two into the covers. After he takes another single, Sehwag runs one down to third man for two off the final ball.

33rd over - Ind 216-3
Some sloppy bowling from Afridi brings firstly another wide, and then a two when Sehwag hoists a wide one to the cover sweeper. Some slightly more adventurous shots from the Indian pair, and it's eight off the over.

32nd over - Ind 208-3
It's Gul's ninth over, having taken 2-11 from three overs in his second spell. Yuvraj opens up with a single, before a nicely-timed square drive by Sehwag brings the first boundary off the bat for eight overs. Some untidy wicket-keeping from Akmal brings another overthrow or two, and Yuvraj finally cuts loose when he pulls to leg for four.

"I have to ask, with the incredulity of someone who can not believe his eyes, what sort of person would put the commentator's curse on the little maestro so early on (see 19th over). I'm not an India supporter, but I do think Tendulkar is one of the greats of the game and fully deserved another hundred - you complete muppet!"
Andy, Yorkshire, in the TMS inbox

31st over - Ind 198-3
Still Afridi as the light begins to fade and the floodlights begin to make a difference. Sehwag dabs a single, while Yuvraj leg-glances for two. A single rounds off the over as Shoaib Akhtar scratches his chin in the deep.

"I hope my fellow Indian fans will forgive my behaviour. The moment I stopped reading commentary and did some work, Tendulkar got out. This mistake will not be repeated. Honest"
Praveen Kumar in the TMS inbox

30th over - Ind 194-3
Gul continues, and after Yuvraj takes a single, Sehwag is denied a boundary by a flying leap by Salman Butt at backward point. I wish Butt would show as much energy in batting as he does in fielding, as he was very tortoise-like in the T20. Gul is upset when umpire Shastri signals a short bouncer as a wide. The over is otherwise very tight.

29th over - Ind 191-3
Another plane flies above the ground as Sehwag faces Afridi, who sends down a legside wide. Sehwag then clubs a full-toss to long-on, and may be disappointed to have only got a single from a fairly loose delivery. Yuvraj dabs a single into the covers, so he's off the mark. Just two more singles from the over.

"I was just starting down the corridor to the library and get some proper reading done, but hesitated both because I want to know if Tendulkar gets out for 99 again and also thought Sarah, Bucks might tell us what kind of graduate opportunities she's looking for. For the first time since my playing days, I've been caught in the corridor of uncertainty - this live text is just like the real thing"
Paul in Lancs in the TMS inbox - sent before Tendulkar's dismissal!

28th over - Ind 186-3
Left-hander Yuvraj Singh enters the fray and suddenly we have two new batsmen in. I can't quite see any of the Pakistan seamers serving him up the sort of over that Stuart Broad did when he hit those six sixes in the T20. He's happy to play out the last three balls of Gul's over, which is a wicket maiden. And I've just had an e-mail in the inbox from someone at Network Rail. Shouldn't you be busy fixing all the chaos that delayed me this morning? Well?

27.3 overs - WICKET - Gambhir c Afridi b Gul 57 - Ind 186-3
Having made the vital breakthrough, Gul continues for his seventh over and Gambhir suddenly looks becalmed. And I had honestly typed that before Gambhir tries to work the third ball of the over off his legs and gives a soft catch to Afridi at short midwicket.

27th over - Ind 186-2
Afridi screams an appeal as Sehwag is struck on the pad, but to no avail. Sehwag on-drives and a well-run two ensues. Afridi is upset with Anjum's lax fielding as Sehwag benefits again.

"Mark, mentioning Scrubs is on TV is the same as mentioning that Friends, Carol Vorderman or repeats of Dad's Army are on, they're always on, it's TV law"
James in Herts in the TMS inbox
[But this isn't a repeat, it's a new episode - MM]

26th over - Ind 180-2
New batsman is Virender Sehwag - he's nearly run out first ball when he thinks about a risky single, but no-one backs up the throw to the stumps and he gets off the mark with an overthrow. Gambhir is tucked up by the last ball and there's no run.

25.4 overs - WICKET - Tendulkar c Akmal b Gul 99 - Ind 179-2
Captain Malik removes himself from the attack and brings back Umar Gul. Tendulkar scampers two to third man which takes him to 99, while Indian tennis star Sania Mirza looks on. Gul's radar is way off for the next ball as a bouncer flies over Tendulkar's head for five wides. The atmosphere is electric - can he make it to 100? He keeps us waiting by playing and missing! And then he nudges at one which Akmal takes with a flying leap behind the stumps - and the "Little Master" is out for 99 for the third time this year! Unbelievable scenes!

25th over - Ind 172-1
More singles off Afridi as we approach the halfway point of the innings. Sachin has 97, Gambhir now has 54.

"Currently writing a history essay on America's path to the Second World War... 2,500 words, due in tomorrow morning, and I've been up till five watching Australia v Sri Lanka! The ICC obviously don't take into account 2nd Year history students' deadlines when concocting this feast of cricket that is on today!"
Simon, Dublin, in the TMS inbox

24th over - Ind 165-1
Tendulkar, still helmeted unlike his partner, powerfully drives to long-on for a single. Gambhir then brings up his own half-century, off 58 balls, by carving his seventh four. Malik is then rather harshly penalised for a no-ball when the replay shows his foot appeared to be grounded behind the line. Umpire Shastri signals a free hit, and Tendulkar carefully paddles a good-length ball for four to fine leg. He's 93 not out.

"Why do people say Sachin should retire now? Just because India won that 20/20 circus? Do you think the genius feels insulted? Do you think Sachin would find a place today in the English or Aussie eleven? "
Himanshu in Paris in the TMS inbox[Would he get in the England team? In a word - yes. MM]

23rd over - Ind 153-1
Tendulkar square-drives for two, then takes a step back and punches one high over long-off for six to bring up the 150. Malik shuffles his field but it's to no avail as Tendulkar sweeps hard to short fine leg, where the ball painfully hits Mohammad Yousuf on the knee and they take two. Another single rounds off the over.

22nd over - Ind 142-1
Another boundary for Gambhir as a loose one from Malik is expertly cut for four. Malik adds to the total by tossing up a wide. Gambhir rounds off the over by taking two through the covers.

"The last time you were on a India - Pakistan match, MM, it was the World Cup clinching (and buttock-clenching) T20 final! Hoping for more of the same. (Same result too , obviously)"
Praveen Kumar in the TMS inbox
[And the last Ind-Pkn match I did before that was the tied T20 match when India won the bowl-out - genuinely one of the most exciting games of cricket I've ever seen - MM]

21st over - Ind 135-1
Another change of bowling as Shahid Afridi enters the fray with his fast leg-breaks. His first delivery is quite quick but a little wide, and Tendulkar carves him away through the covers for four. Keeper Kamran Akmal tries to gee the fielders up, but the singles continue to flow. With spin on from both ends, Gambhir has forsaken his helmet and donned a light blue cap. Another belter from Tendulkar brings another four through the covers.

"It's great to read the buffoonery of both commentators and contributors to brighten up the working day. Happy Diwali for tomorrow to everyone in cricket email/text-land and Happy New Year on Saturday! Come on India!"
Kash, London, in the TMS inbox

20th over - Ind 125-1
A bird of prey - possibly a hawk - sits atop the Mohali floodlights. A change of bowling as Shoaib Malik's off-spin is introduced, and Gambhir shows him no favours as he carves Malik's first ball through point for four. Gambhir and Tendulkar run a couple of twos, while Shahid Afridi's cap falls off as he makes an accomplished boundary stop. Pakistan's non-playing squad members and coaches all look pretty glum on the sidelines, and there's no let-up as Malik tosses one up and Gambhir lets rip with a lofted cover drive for four. 12 from the over, all to Gambhir. That's it for the powerplays, but I don't think Pakistan will take much consolation from that.

19th over - Ind 113-1
A scampered two from Tendulkar brings up the hundred partnership, from which he has contributed 62 and Gambhir has chipped in with 27. A slower ball from Tanvir is expertly guided away for a single by the "Little Master", who then flashes one away through point for four. Not wanting to tempt fate, but he's on 67 and we've just found out his last ODI hundred was 24 innings ago (on 31 January). He's hit 99 twice in that time.

"I am a proud Pakistani and I want them to win this time - I work in the UAE and next to me sit Indians, I don't want them to start laughing when their team wins and start teasing me. If Pakistan win, everyone will get a free treat from me in the office"
Wadiwala Muhammad Kaisar in the TMS inbox

18th over - Ind 105-1
Tendulkar goes on the attack against Anjum and smashes one over the infield for four past extra cover. He then drops one off his legs to jog through for a single to bring up the Indian hundred as a plane flies by. Gambhir then has to duck a bouncer which ump Shastri signals as an aerial wide. He and Tendulkar are seemingly picking singles up at will. Tendulkar goes for the big one but although he tries to hit over the top, it flies away to fine leg and they take a couple. Pakistan need a wicket, and fast.

"'The bearded Tanvir'!! No details being left out here! Brilliant. Just a shame that Pakistan don't look to be doing so good at the moment..."
Adil from Stockport in the TMS inbox

17th over - Ind 95-1
A miscued hook from Gambhir flies away to fine leg, where it evades the fielder and goes for four. Tendulkar asks for the sightscreens to be moved as Tanvir goes around the wicket and bowls from very wide of the crease, and he dabs one down to fine leg for a single.

"JD, jealousy is never an attractive trait"
Jude, Bristol, in the TMS inbox
[Mention of JD reminds me - Scrubs is on the telly tonight. Great show - MM]

16th over - Ind 89-1
Umpire Suresh Shastri wheels his arm in a circle to signal the third powerplay, before thrusting three fingers upwards to indicate that Pakistan can have three fielders outside the circle. Gambhir takes a single off Anjum, while Shoaib has one leg up on an advertising board on the boundary, having a good old leg-stretch. Will they bring him back in search of a wicket? Tendulkar brings up his 86th ODI half-century with another fluent legside four, before a sprawling stop by Salman Butt at backward point restricts him to a single. A prod-and-run single from Gambhir ends the over.

15th over - Ind 82-1
More wonderful timing from Tendulkar as he works Tanvir off his legs down to long leg for four. Tanvir, who's bowling with a bandaged finger, changes the angle by going around the wicket, and that's marginally more effective as the rest of the over is pretty tight.

"Mark, as Sarah from Canterbury's agent, can you inform her fans that she is currently without the use of Internet, due to a reputable internet company being "Rubbish" in her words. She will be back and ready to regail you with her adventures in due course"
Jerry Maguire, The Bronx, in the TMS inbox

"I'll have you know that I do plenty with my life apart from e-mailing TMS... I'm currently working two jobs while looking at graduate opportunities. My sporting obsession is perhaps hindering my applications, sometimes I think you lot should just employ me and I might get some actual work done"
Sarah, Bucks, in the TMS inbox

14th over - Ind 77-1
Anjum still has a slip in for his second over, and sends down a wide. Gambhir then attempts to drive but nicks one which falls just short of keeper Akmal, who's standing a pretty fair way back, and they trot through for a single. Tendulkar then picks one up beautifully just short of a length, and he guides it expertly to the square-leg boundary for four.

"To answer JD of Wolves, Sarah is the body and spirit of the party, and a bit of feminine charm livens the occasion up (nothing taken away from Paresh and Mark). [No offence taken - MM] I wonder how many like us spend more time reading this commentary than attending to our office duties!"
Matthew Smallwood, Newcastle, in the TMS inbox

13th over - Ind 71-1
Right then, normal service has been resumed as soon as possible. My heartfelt thanks to Paresh and the team for filling the breach - I've had a four-and-a-half-hour commute from hell, and I'm looking forward to being entertained by India and Pakistan. Gambhir takes a single off the first ball from the bearded Tanvir, while Tendulkar works him away for a scampered three into the covers, and Gambhir pinches the strike with a single.

"Rob, Rob, Rob (shaking head). You can't possibly need help when it comes to India v Pakistan?! Pakistan all the way! Come on the luminous, hubba bubba coloured pressure-causing-then-crumbling-under-it freaks that are my team!"
Soban Bashir in the TMS inbox

By Paresh Soni

12th over: India 66-1
Another change. Rao Iftikhar Anjum on and his first ball goes for four, helped by Sachin down to fine-leg. India on top now after some early struggles.

11th over: India 60-1
A change of bowling. Sohail Tanvir comes on but his second ball is dispatched quite imperiously square on the off-side from Gambhir to bring up the fifty partnership off 60 balls. Strange style this fella Tanvir has, they call him the "left-arm Mike Procter". Mark Mitchener is in the house, to a round of applause.

10th over: India 54-1
Sachin brilliantly flicks Gul down to fine-leg, edges wide of the slips and then caresses majestically through extra-cover for three consecutive fours. It brings up 50 for India and the game's warming up nicely now.

9th over: India 39-1
Tremendous blow from Gambhir to pull Shoaib for his first boundary. Shoaib's not happy and beats him with a quick one.

"I'd just like to know if Sarah form Bucks does anything else with her life other than e-mail TMS during live match commentaries?"
JD in Wolves via email

"I'm not really interested in India v Pakistan but the chance to do something other than work and catch up with the adventures of Sarah from Canterbury is too good to miss! Come on India!, no, come on Pakistan!, oh i don't know. Someone help me....."
Rob, Wolverhampton via email

I sense a hornets' nest being disturbed.

8th over: India 35-1
Tendulkar's a bit rattled after making a mess of two big heaves, the ball catching the bat pretty high. Finally he carves Gul backward of point for four to ease the tension.

7th over: India 30-1
A real opportunity for Pakistan. Tendulkar sends Gambhir back and Shoaib Malik, one of the better fielders in the touring team, misses the target from mid-off with Gambhir well short of the crease. Shoaib Akhtar then beats Tendulkar all ends up and taunts the Mumbai maestro. Hmm...

6th over: India 29-1
It's Diwali tomorrow and, traditionally, you clean your home the day before. A real shame I had to be in here otherwise I'd have got the feather duster out. A couple of singles and overthrow keep the scoreboard ticking.

5th over: India 26-1
Crazy stuff from Shoaib. He hurls a terrible wide down the leg-side, then over-steps and pings in another wide one which flies to the boundary. Sachin finishes the over with a glorious flick off middle-stump which races away to the mid-wicket fence.

4th over: India 15-1
Sachin is beaten all ends up by an absolute pearler from Gul, who then finds the edge of Gambhir's bat. Tendulkar cracks the last ball through the covers for three but good stuff from both seamers so far.

"Does anyone else love the 'Not all contributions can be used' bit that has now appeared at the top of the page? Do you guys really get that much abuse when you don't publish peoples' comments?"
Sarah, Bucks, via email

I've been given an easy ride of it so far Sarah but feel free to get stuck in when Mark arrives!

3rd over: India 10-1
Gambhir negotiates several tasty deliveries from a fired-up Shoaib. This pitch has a fair bit of life in it!

2nd over: India 8-1
Sachin takes a blow on the shoulder and the ball flies down to fine-leg for two leg-byes but otherwise a quiet over from Gul.

"I can read the commentary and email you from the middle of nowhere in Uganda on my mobile. Surely Mark can make some witty commentary from a train in the UK?"
Chris, Uganda via email

1st over - WICKET! Ganguly b Shoaib 6, India 6-1
Ganguly begins in style, flaying Shoaib's second ball for four on the off-side after picking up two from the opener. Tremendous atmosphere already and there we are the first breakthrough! Shoiab switches to round the wicket and an inside edge does for Sourav. Bye bye Prince of Calcutta!

0858: We're almost ready to get going in Mohali, a suburb of the city of Chandigarh in north India.

"Hello from sunny Bahrain. I have a good bet riding on Sehwag making a 50! Come on India!"
Yahya Abdulla via email

0847: Dhoni could also be handed the Test captaincy today, although there have been murmurings that Anil Kumble might be given the job on a short-term basis after Sachin Tendulkar turned it down.

0838: Mahendra Dhoni wins the toss and says India will bat. Both teams have made one change from the first game. Powerful opener Virender Sehwag comes in for the hosts at the expense of spinner Murali Kartik and Pakistan seamer Sohail Tanvir replaces slow left-armer Abdur Rehman.

0830: An early blow for you Mark Mitchener fans. The big man has had a bit of a mare on the trains and will be delayed. I'll try my best to fill the void...

India: Mahendra Dhoni (capt), Saurav Ganguly, Sachin Tendulkar, Gautam Gambhir, Virender Sehwag, Yuvraj Singh, Robin Uthappa, Irfan Pathan, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan, Rudra Pratap Singh.