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Anil Kumble's 24th five-wicket haul put India on the verge of a historic first Test victory in Pakistan.

The Indian spinner leapfrogged Ian Botham on the all-time list as his 6-71 sent the hosts tumbling towards defeat.

Forcing Pakistan to follow on after bowling them out for 407, Kumble, aided by the miserly Irfan Pathan, almost secured victory inside four days.

Only Yousuf Youhana's unbeaten century offered any resistance, but Pakistan trail by 61 runs with one wicket left.

India's display was all the more remarkable after losing strike bowler Zaheer Khan to a leg strain.

Zaheer suffers leg strain

Zaheer was able to bowl only one over in the day before limping off and will take no further part in the Test.

But first Pathan, then Kumble, responded superbly in his absence.

Pathan struck with the first ball of the day to remove Abdul Razzaq, caught behind without adding to his overnight 47.

What a shambles! This is meant to be a batting track! From M Shafiq Have your say on TMS

The left-armer then dismissed Saqlain Mushtaq and Shoaib Akhtar gave Sachin Tendulkar an easy return catch as India claimed three wickets in four overs.

Mohammad Sami and Shabbir Ahmed held India up with a last-wicket stand of 36, but Pakistan were quickly in trouble again, being forced to follow-on 268 runs behind.

Imran Farhat and Taufeeq Umar put on 33 before Farhat went for 24, edging Kumble to wicketkeeper Parthiv Patel.

Taufeeq swiftly followed lbw, not offering a shot to Kumble, and when captain Inzamam-ul-Haq was run out for a duck by a direct hit from Yuvraj Singh, the writing was on the wall.

Yasir Hameed top-edged a sweep straight to Virender Sehwag to give Yuvraj his first Test wicket as Pakistan slumped to 75-4.

Razzaq was out twice in the day

The wickets continued to tumble at regular intervals after tea, Razzaq falling to a superb reflex catch by Akash Chopra at short leg, giving Kumble his third wicket.

Pathan claimed Moin Khan lbw before Kumble collected his fourth and fifth wickets, trapping both Sami and Saqlain lbw for ducks.

At 136-8, still 132 adrift, Youhana opted to open up, hitting three boundaries off one Balaji over and two successive sixes off Yuvraj.

A superbly-struck four brought up his century and took Pakistan past 200 before Kumble ended a ninth-wicket partnership of 70 by having Shoaib caught in the penultimate over.

Shabbir walked out for the final over, and by fending away the last ball he delayed India's moment of triumph.

Pakistan: Imran Farhat, Taufeeq Umar, Yasir Hameed, Yousuf Youhana Inzamam-ul-Haq (Capt), Abdul Razzaq, Moin Khan (Wkt) Saqlain Mushtaq, Mohammad Sami, Shoaib Akhtar, Shabbir Ahmed.

India: A Chopra, V Sehwag, V V S Laxman, S R Tendulkar R Dravid (Capt), Yuvraj Singh, P A Patel (Wkt), A Kumble, Z Khan I K Pathan, L Balaji.

Umpires: D Shepherd (Eng), S Taufel (Aus).