/world sport
NEW DELHI, India -- An unbroken ninth wicket stand between Misbah-ul-Haq and Mohammad Sami rescued Pakistan on the first day of the first Test against India in New Dehli on Thursday.
Misbah played a watchful innings on the way to his first Test 50.
The pair had compiled an unbroken partnership of 68 to leave Pakistan on 210 for eight by the close on a day in which the Indian bowlers led by new captain Anil Kumble largely dominated.
Misbah struck his first Test 50, and Sami provided dogged support as they survived the evening session without losing a wicket.
Kumble returned figures of three for 38 after Pakistan lost two early wickets when Zaheer Khan (two for 36) broke through the top order.
Salman Butt was bowled by an inswinger, and Younus Khan contributed just seven before mistiming a short ball to Munaf Patel at fine leg.
Kumble then got in on the act by bowling Yasir Hameed with a googly. The dismissals of Mohammad Yousuf, lbw to Sourav Ganguly, and captain Shoaib Malik for a duck - via a regulation outside edge through to wicketkeeper Mahendra Singh Dhoni off Munaf Patel - strengthened India's stranglehold.
Only Misbah put up any kind of resistance, with Kamran Akmal bowled between bat and pad by Kumble.
Harbhajan Singh had Sohail Tanvir lbw, and Shoaib Akhtar was bowled when he heaved wildly at Kumble.
After tea, Misbah hit one enormous six off Harbhajan in an innings otherwise characterized by patience and deftness. He finished unbeaten on 71 off 204 balls, while Sami was still there on 20.
Meanwhile in Sri Lanka, England had some useful batting practice in the first match of their tour, reaching 316 for five as their match against a Board President's XI ended in a draw.
Only Kevin Pietersen, who made just four, of the leading batsmen failed to have a lengthy spell at the crease in reply to a mammoth 500 for five declared. E-mail to a friend 
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