MADRAS, India, Jan 30 (AFP) - Sachin Tendulkar stood against Pakistan's emphatic march towards victory in the first Test after a dramatic third day's play before a sell-out crowd at the Chepauk here on Saturday.

India, set a victory target of 271 on the uneven wicket, lost both openers cheaply for six before Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid carried them to 40-2 by stumps.

Tendulkar, who failed to score in the first innings, was unbeaten on 20 and Dravid was on eight to set up a needle finish to Pakistan's first Test on Indian soil in 12 years.

On a day of fluctuating fortunes, Shahid Afridi scored a monumental 141, his maiden Test century, to lift Pakistan to a seemingly impregnable position at 275-4 shortly after tea.

But lanky seamer Venkatesh Prasad created havoc with five wickets off 18 balls without conceding a run as Pakistan lost their last six batsmen for 11 runs to be bowled out for 286.

Paceman Waqar Younis then removed India's latest opening pair of Sadagopan Ramesh and Venkat Laxman in his second and third overs, before Tendulkar and Dravid played out the final moments in front of 40,000 tense home fans.

``It's going to be a great finish to a great game,'' said Pakistani captain Wasim Akram. ``We are confident of winning from here.''

Indian skipper Mohammad Azharuddin responded: ``There's a lot left in this game yet because we have a good batting line-up.''

Afridi, better known for scoring one-day cricket's fastest century off 37 balls, showed remarkable patience in only his second Test match.

The 18-year-old batted for six hours, hitting 21 boundaries and three sixes, to notch up the only century so far in the bowler-dominated game.

Afridi added a run-a-minute stand of 97 for the third wicket with Inzamam-ul Haq (51) and 106 for the sixth with Salim Malik to bolster Pakistan before Prasad struck.

Left-arm spinner Sunil Joshi began the rot when he had Malik snapped up smartly by Dravid at slip for 32.

Prasad, moving the old ball both ways and getting unusual lift, proved unplayable after forcing Moin Khan to edge an easy catch to rival wicket-keeper Nayan Mongia.

He then uprooted Afridi's leg-stump as the batsman attempted a swipe and two balls later trapped Saqlain Mushtaq leg-before.

Akram hooked Prasad down Joshi's throat at deep square leg and Younis drove a catch to mid-off to end the innings.

Pakistan, trailing by 16 runs on the first innings, lost just two wickets in the morning session to take their overnight score of 34-1 to 155-3 by lunch.

Afridi and Inzamam prospered against some untidy bowling by the Indians after Pakistan lost the important wicket of Ijaz Ahmed soon after the start of play.

The tense struggle between bat and ball was marred by two controversial decisions by New Zealand umpire Steve Dunne against the Pakistanis.

Ijaz, who did not add to his overnight score of 11, stood his ground when he patted a ball back to bowler Anil Kumble, believing he had hit it on the bounce.

Play was held up for five minutes as Dunne first consulted square-leg umpire Venkat Ramaswamy and then the television umpire in the pavilion before giving the batsman out.

Inzamam was then unfortunate to be given out caught at silly point in Tendulkar's first over just before lunch as replays showed the ball had hit the flap of the pad -- instead of the bat.

Afridi reached his maiden half-century by lofting Joshi for a six and celebrated the feat by smashing another six off Kumble.