By Oliver Brett

VVS Laxman produced some much-needed calm for India

VVS Laxman's composed unbeaten 57 left India on 228-6 in reply to Pakistan's 231 all out at stumps on an absorbing day two of the first Test in Delhi.

Pakistan roared back into contention by taking four top Indian wickets between lunch and tea as India collapsed from 71-1 to stand on a worrying 93-5.

But Laxman and Mahendra Dhoni (57) added 115 and India would have passed Pakistan had bad light not set in.

Misbah-ul-Haq had top-scored with 82 for Pakistan before he was run out.

He put on 87 with Mohammad Sami in a patient stand built up over 42 overs and straddling Thursday's final session and much of Friday morning.

The vital partnership was eventually ended by a bizarre dismissal.

Sprinting for an easy single after a shot into the covers that would have brought him his 83rd run, Misbah leapt to avoid the throw from Karthik.

606: DEBATE Sachin's brainless run-out changed the complexion of the match BBC Sport's Oliver Brett

He was a yard beyond the crease, but a couple of feet in the air, when Karthik's direct hit broke the stumps.

Misbah, who had never reached 50 in seven previous Tests, was visibly distraught as he sloped back to the pavilion after the bravest of five-hour vigils.

India desperately needed that breakthrough and it lifted their mood.

Skipper Anil Kumble (4-38) swiftly took the final wicket, bowling number 11 Danish Kaneria, leaving Sami unbeaten on 28.

That still looked under par on a flat wicket as India cruised to 71-1.

But when four wickets fell in the space of six overs, Pakistan were unexpectedly on top.

The demise began when Wasim Jaffer, having put on 56 with Rahul Dravid, was struck on the front pad by a fast ball from Shoaib Akhtar that would have sent leg-stump cartwheeling.

A young Indian fan soaks up the atmosphere in Delhi

India were still on top, but Sachin Tendulkar, who got off the mark of his first ball with a single, was dismissed two balls later.

Sensing a possible second run after Dravid had nudged a ball into the on-side, he was rightly sent back by his partner.

But he could not beat Mohammad Yousuf's throw to Kamran Akmal, and the crowd groaned as one when the third umpire's verdict was relayed on the giant screen.

It got worse when left-arm seamer Sohail Tanvir bowled both Sourav Ganguly (8) and Dravid (38) for his first wickets in Tests.

Ganguly was defeated by one that hustled through the gate, while Dravid played all round a perfectly straight delivery.

But India were determined to keep playing their shots, Laxman and Dhoni both hitting some crisp boundaries in the overs leading up to tea.

The theme changed after the interval, as Dhoni continued to hit out - with some particularly effective thumps through point and wide of mid-on - while Laxman dropped anchor.

Dhoni's aggression finally got the better of him when he advanced to a big leg-spinner from Kaneria only to be stumped by yards.

And though Laxman remained unfazed, Kumble was hanging on grimly when the umpires spared him further indignity at the hands of Kaneria.

"I'm happy Dhoni and I put up a partnership which was important at that stage of the game."

"I had a very good series in England and averaged over 50 and still people doubt my place.

"The morning session will be very crucial. The pitch is deteriorating."

"On the last two days, I'll have a vital role. I've done it in the past and want to do it again."