St Johnstone blew a two-goal advantage to leave the Premiership play-off hanging in the balance.
The Perth side looked on easy-street following first half goals from Shaun Rooney and Melker Hallberg.
But Inverness came storming back with Reece McAlear’s impressive double setting up a nervy night in Perth.
Saints had started very well and, after just five minutes, Glenn Middleton was searching for the breakthrough.
The Scotland under-21 international, after receiving a Rooney pass at the edge of the box, used his upper body strength to hold off pressure before unleashing a powerful left-footed drive.
The ball whistled through the air and towards the top corner but goalkeeper Mark Ridgers was on the move quickly to pull off a very smart diving save.
Visiting boss Callum Davidson would be content with what he was watching in the opening exchanges. Both Murray Davidson and Rooney soon tried their luck from distance.
Rooney has previously been the man for the big occasion and forever wrote his name into Perth folklore last year when netting the winner in both cup final triumphs.
He endeared himself all over again on 18 minutes when rising highest to nod Hallberg’s clipped back post delivery into the back of the net. It looked effortless.
Saints were in the mood and Middleton almost doubled the advantage moments later with a curling effort that drifted narrowly over the bar. But soon there was a second.
It stemmed from the quality feet of Hendry inside the box whose twisting and turning had home defenders on skates.
The ball fell for Middleton who was unable to guide in from close range but Hallberg took control and neatly applied the finishing touches with 24 minutes played. Composure central.
Perth players had turned up and more. They were not content with just two and continued to press forward.
Early in the second half Dan Cleary nodded over from a corner and then Hendry tested Ridgers with a near-post effort that needed turned behind.
Inverness, sparked by a few substitutions, started to look more dangerous and enjoyed a promising spell of pressure.
But on 63 minutes Hendry was on the hunt for a third with a side-footed attempt from the edge of the box. It drifted the wrong side of the post.
Back up the other end, experienced forward Billy McKay’s dangerous delivery needed turned over his own crossbar by well-positioned Jamie McCart.
Saints freshened things up with Hallberg and Middleton making way for Jacob Butterfield and Stevie May.
On 74 minutes, however, the Highlanders had a lifeline when McAlear finished high into the net after being teed-up by Austin Samuels.
McAlear was far from done and, with 81 minutes on the clock, curled an absolute peach of a free-kick into the top corner for 2-2.
Suddenly it appeared the energy had disappeared from Saints’ legs and Inverness were finishing much stronger.
The game would end level and now all eyes turn to Monday night’s second leg at McDiarmid Park.
