After the first Test match in Karachi had failed to produce a positive result, fans of the two teams hoped for better things in the second, in Faisalabad.
Pakistan won the toss again, but this time they chose to field. At 101/4, India seemed to be struggling, but Sanjay Manjrekar, whose batting had helped save the first Test, and Sachin Tendulkar, playing in just his second international match combined, putting on 143 for the fifth wicket.
Tendulkar made his first Test fifty. He was dismissed for 59, while Manjrekar went on to score 76, but the innings subsided quickly after the pair were both out, and India were eventually bowled out for 288. Wasim Akram was the best of the Pakistan bowlers, with 4-45.
Pakistan made an excellent start to their reply, although the wicket was slow and runs did not flow off the bat.
Aamer Malik and Rameez Raja put on 105 for the first wicket before Rameez fell for 58. Aamer Malik continued, adding 96 in the company of Saleem Malik. His Aamer Malik’s long vigil at the crease – he batted almost seven hours for his 117, which included 15 fours – then came to an end, and Saleem Malik fell soon afterwards for 63. However, the middle- and lower-order batters were able to add 116 more before the decision was taken to declare on 423/9.
Manoj Prabhakar took 6-132 having bowled more than 42 overs.
India’s first priority was to save the game.
Navjot Sidhu made 51. Then Man of the Match Manjrekar proved yet again to be a thorn in Pakistan's sides, making 83, including 11 fours. This time he found support from Mohammad Azharuddin, who would go to score 109.
By that stage of the match, India had decided to bat out the rest of the game. Prabhakar making an unbeaten 54,and Kapil Dev a typically belligerent 49, with nine fours, before the umpires decided enough was enough.
India were 398/7 at that point.