Pakistan saves the follow on in the Third test ...

Misbah-ul-Haq and Kamran Akmal hit a defiant unbeaten stand of 81 to improve Pakistan's hopes of salvaging a result against India in the third Test.

The tourists reached 369-5 at stumps on day three, still 257 runs adrift of India's massive first-innings total, but only 58 runs short of avoiding the follow-on.

Faisal Iqbal was the only wicket to fall in the evening session when he nudged a short ball from debutant Ishant Sharma to Gautam Gambhir at short leg for 22.

Misbah dug in, bringing up his half century from 151 balls, and will be key to Pakistan's chances on Tuesday when he resumes on 54.

Wicketkeeper Akmal was more aggressive and has 32 runs to his name from 57 balls.

Pakistan began the day on 86-1, in reply to India's mammoth 626 all out, but Salman Butt fell in the morning session for 68 when he edged Sourav Ganguly's delivery to Dinesh Karthik.

His was the only wicket to fall before lunch and a 50 from Younus Khan helped the tourists move onto 180-2 at the interval.

India then regained the initiative when Younus fell to the spin of Harbhajan Singh for 80 midway through the afternoon.

And Mohammad Yousuf followed shortly after, caught by Yuvraj Singh trying to drive Irfan Pathan for 24.

That left Pakistan on 265-4 at tea, but Misbah and Akmal's heroics once again steadied things for the visitors before close of play.

Pakistan needs to win the third and final Test to salvage a series draw.