The Pakistanis crush Ganguly-led India

The match was reduced to a 33-overs-a-side match. India made four changes to their playing eleven – Sachin Tendulkar, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan and Ashish Nehra made way for Rohan Gavaskar, Ajit Agarkar, Lakshmipathy Balaji and Anil Kumble. Pakistan made just one change to the eleven that last played the Indians – Imran Nazir made way for Shahid Afridi.

On winning the toss, Sourav Ganguly, India’s skipper, inserted the Pakistanis. Afridi, whose 14-ball innings included a couple of boundaries and a six, scored 19. Four overs into the match, he was caught by Mohammad Kaif. Agarkar broke the 22-run stand. Pakistan scored 50 off 11.4 overs. Yasir Hameed, who faced 35 balls, scored nine. Forty-nine balls later, he was caught by Rahul Dravid. Balaji broke the 30-run stand.

Inzamam-ul-Haq had no reason to be in seventh heaven – he scored just a run. A dozen balls later, he was caught by Dravid. Balaji broke the six-run stand. The fourth-wicket pair put on 64. Mohammad Yousuf, whose run-a-ball innings included a boundary and a six, scored 28. Fifty-nine balls later, Virender Sehwag ran him out.

Shoaib Malik, the player of the match, scored 68. His 67-ball innings included seven boundaries. His 50 – which included four boundaries – included five boundaries. Eleven balls later, he was caught by Kaif. Kumble broke the 14-run stand. Abdul Razzaq, whose 27-ball innings included a boundary and a couple of sixes, scored 35. He was unbeaten.

The sixth-wicket pair D(rav)idn’t get off the mark. Younis Khan, who faced a couple of balls, didn’t open his account. Three balls after Malik’s dismissal, he was caught behind off the bowling of Balaji. Moin Khan, whose 20-ball innings included three boundaries, scored 27. He was unbeaten.

India conceded five extras. Pakistan scored 192 for the loss of half-a-dozen wickets off 33 overs. Ganguly, who bowled half-a-dozen overs, conceded 34. He was wicketless, as was Irfan Pathan, who bowled seven overs, conceding 57.

Kumble, who bowled half-a-dozen overs, conceded 32. He picked up a wicket, as did Agarkar, who bowled seven overs, conceding 40. Balaji bowled seven overs, including a maiden. He conceded 27, picking up three scalps.

India’s target was revised to 194 off 33 overs. Sehwag, whose 15-ball innings included a couple of boundaries, scored 17. Twenty-two balls into the chase, he was caught by Malik. Shabbir Ahmed broke the 30-run stand. Ganguly, whose 29-ball innings included three boundaries, scored 25. Forty-eight balls later, he was caught by Yousuf. Razzaq broke the 39-run stand.

The third-wicket pair put on a run. The Wall, who faced a ball, D(rav)id not get off the mark. Five balls later, Inzamam-ul-Haq ran him out. V V S Laxman, whose 51-ball innings included a couple of boundaries and the only six of the innings, scored 37. Forty-two balls later, Malik broke the 26-run stand.

Yuvraj Singh, who faced 24 balls, scored 13. Five balls later, he was trapped leg before wicket by Afridi, who broke the two-run stand. Kaif, who faced 15 balls, scored 10. Twenty-five balls later, Afridi broke the 18-run stand. Agarkar, who faced three balls, scored a run. Half-a-dozen balls later, he was caught by Hameed. Needless to say, Malik was in seventh heaven.

The eighth-wicket pair didn’t open its account. Gavaskar, whose 18-ball innings included a boundary, scored 15. A couple of balls later, he was caught by Razzaq off the bowling of Malik. Pathan, who faced two balls, scored a run. A couple of balls later, he was trapped leg before wicket by Afridi, who broke the one-run stand.

Balaji, who faced three balls, scored a couple. Five balls later, he was caught by Mohammad Sami. Afridi broke the three-run stand. Kumble, who faced a couple of balls, scored a run. He was unbeaten. Pakistan conceded five extras. India, who were bundled out for 127 off 27 overs, lost by 66 runs under the Duckworth-Lewis method.

Shoaib Akhtar, who bowled three overs, conceded 23. He was wicketless, as was Sami, who bowled five overs, conceding 29. Razzaq bowled four overs, including a maiden. He conceded 14, picking up a wicket.

Ahmed, who bowled five overs, conceded 22. He picked up a wicket. Malik, who bowled four overs, conceded 18. He picked up three scalps. Afridi, who bowled half-a-dozen overs, conceded 20. He picked up four scalps.

Pakistan (Sour)avenge losses to India

India made one change to their playing eleven – V V S Laxman made way for Anil Kumble. Pakistan made one change to the eleven that last played the Indians – Taufeeq Umar made way for Imran Nazir. 

On winning the toss, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Pakistan’s skipper, chose to bat. Nazir, who faced four balls, scored a run. (Irf)An over into the match, he was trapped leg before wicket by Pathan, who broke the two-run stand.

Pakistan scored 50 off 10.2 overs. While Yasir Hameed was batting on 15 at that point, Shoaib Malik, the player of the match, was batting on 25. They put on 50 for the second wicket off 60 balls. Malik’s half-century – which included nine boundaries – came off 41 balls.

Pakistan scored 100 off 17.4 overs. While Hameed was batting on 26 at that point, Malik was batting on 61. They put on 100 for the second wicket off 106 balls. Hameed, whose 56-ball innings included four boundaries, scored 31. A hundred and five balls later, the (Kumb)leggie broke the 103-run partnership.

Pakistan scored 150 off 27.4 overs. While Malik was batting on 84 at that point, Inzamam was batting on 22. They put on 50 for the third wicket off 64 balls. Seventy-one balls later, he was caught by Yuvraj Singh. Harbhajan Singh broke the 66-run partnership.

Malik’s ton – which included 14 boundaries – came off 95 balls. Pakistan scored 200 off 36.5 overs. While Malik was batting on 101 at that point, Mohammad Yousuf was batting on 18. They put on 50 off 44 balls for the fourth wicket.

Yousuf eventually scored 29. His 28-ball innings included three boundaries. Fifty-seven balls later, he was caught by Mohammad Kaif. The (Kumb)leggie broke the 63-run partnership.

Pakistan scored 250 off 42.4 overs. While Malik was batting on 136 at that point, Abdul Razzaq was batting on four. The former eventually scored 143. His 127-ball (Sach)innings included 18 boundaries and a six. Thirty-one balls later, he was caught by Kaif. Tendulkar broke the 43-run stand.

Razzaq eventually scored 22. His 19-ball innings included a boundary. Half-a-dozen balls later, Pathan broke the nine-run stand. Khan scored 14. His 13-ball (Mo)innings included a boundary. Eleven balls later, he was caught by Harbhajan. Pathan broke the 10-run stand.

Pakistan scored 300 off 49.4 overs. While Younis Khan was batting on four at that point, Mohammad Sami was batting on one. The latter, who faced three balls, didn’t add to his score. Half-a-dozen balls after Moin’s dismissal, he was caught by Kaif. Tendulkar broke the four-run stand.

The ninth-wicket pair didn’t get off the mark. Younis, who faced half-a-dozen balls, didn’t add to his score. The next ball, he was dismissed by Tendulkar. Shoaib Akhtar, who didn’t face a ball, was unbeaten.

India scored 21 extras. Pakistan scored 300 for the loss of nine wickets off 50 overs. Ashish Nehra bowled eight overs, including a maiden. He conceded 54. He was wicketless, as was Lakshmipathy Balaji, who bowled seven overs, conceding 61.

Harbhajan, who bowled 10 overs, conceded 50. He picked up a wicket. Kumble, who bowled 10 overs, conceded 49. He picked up a couple of wickets. Tendulkar, who bowled five overs, conceded 28. He picked up three scalps, as did Pathan, who bowled 10 overs, conceding 52.

Virender Sehwag, who faced five balls, scored a run. Nine balls later, he was caught by Moin. Shabbir Ahmed broke the 17-run stand. India scored 50 off 7.5 overs. While Tendulkar was batting on 15 at that point, Sourav Ganguly, India’s skipper, was batting on 22. They put on 50 off 54 balls for the second wicket.

Ganguly, whose 45-ball innings included five boundaries and the only six of the innings, scored 39. Sixty-eight balls later, Sami broke the 62-run partnership. Rahul Dravid, who faced nine balls, scored five. Nineteen balls later, he was trapped leg before wicket by Razzaq, who broke the 15-run stand.

India scored 100 off 17 overs. While Tendulkar was batting on 30 at that point, Yuvraj was batting on five. Fifty-two balls later, the latter was caught by Malik, who broke the 45-run stand.

India scored 150 off 28.2 overs. While Tendulkar was batting on 48 at that point, Kaif was batting on three. They put on a dozen for the fifth wicket. Twenty-five balls later, Younis and Moin ran him out.

Tendulkar’s 50 – which included three boundaries – came off 77 balls. India scored 200 off 41.4 overs. While Tendulkar was batting on 76 at that point, Pathan was batting on 17. The former eventually scored 78. His 103-ball innings included half-a-dozen boundaries. Eighty-five balls later, he was caught by Nazir. Malik broke the 63-run partnership.

Harbhajan, who faced eight balls, scored a couple. Seventeen balls later, he was caught by Younis. Ahmed broke the nine-run stand. Pathan, whose 75-ball innings included two boundaries, scored 38. Eighteen balls later, he was caught by Nazir. Akhtar broke the 10-run stand.

Balaji, who faced 11 balls, scored five. He was unbeaten, as was Kumble, who faced five balls, scoring four. His runs came by way of a boundary. Pakistan conceded 38 extras. India, who scored 241 for the loss of eight wickets off 50 overs, lost by 59 runs.

Each of the bowlers bowled 10 overs apiece. Sami and Akhtar picked up a wicket apiece. While the former conceded 57, the latter conceded 51. Razzaq, whose spell included two maidens, conceded 38. He picked up a wicket. Malik and Ahmed picked up two scalps apiece. While the former conceded 42, the latter conceded 48.

















   



      

India’S(oura)victory over Pakistan is historic

Lahore also hosted the (Gadda)final match of the One-day International series between India and Pakistan. It also happened to be India’s last match of the 2003/04 season. While they made no change to their playing eleven, Pakistan made just one change to the eleven that last played the Indians – Shahid Afridi made way for Taufeeq Umar.

On winning the toss, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Pakistan’s skipper and the player of the series, inserted the Indians. Virender Sehwag, whose 22-ball innings included four boundaries, scored 20. Half-a-dozen overs (Mo)into the match, he was caught by Khan. Shabbir Ahmed broke the 34-run stand.

India scored 50 off eight overs. While Sachin Tendulkar was batting on 19 at that point, V V S Laxman, the player of the match, was batting on seven. Tendulkar, whose 48-ball innings included seven boundaries, scored 37. Forty-nine balls later, he was caught by Moin. Mohammad Sami broke the 45-run stand.

A hundred and twelve balls into India’s innings, the first drinks break was taken. India were 88 for the loss of a couple of wickets at that point. While Laxman was batting on 23, Sourav Ganguly, India’s skipper, had scored just a couple.

They put on 50 for the third wicket in 60 balls. Laxman’s half-century – which included five boundaries – came off 52 balls. India scored 150 off 27.5 overs. While Laxman was batting on 50, Ganguly was batting on 36.

Ganguly scored 46. His 64-ball innings included five boundaries. A hundred and eleven balls later, he was caught by Moin. Shoaib Akhtar broke the 92-run partnership. When the second drinks break was taken, India had scored 179 for the loss of three wickets off 35 overs. While Laxman was batting on 68 then, Rahul Dravid was batting on a couple.

The Wall, who faced 10 balls, scored four. Twenty-one balls later, Sami broke the 12-run stand. India scored 200 off 38.3 overs. While Laxman was batting on 76 at that point, Yuvraj Singh was batting on nine. The latter’s century – which included 10 boundaries – came off 98 balls.

The Punjab southpaw, whose 19-ball innings included a couple of boundaries, scored 18. Thirty-six balls later, he was caught by Inzamam. Ahmed broke the 44-run stand. India scored 250 off 45.2 overs. While Laxman was batting on 107 (his eventual score) then, Mohammad Kaif was batting on nine.

Laxman’s 104-ball innings included 11 boundaries. Twenty-two balls after Yuvraj’s dismissal, he was caught by Inzamam. Ahmed broke the 26-run stand. Kaif, who faced 20 balls, scored 16. Sixteen balls later, he was caught by Umar. Sami broke the 23-run stand.

Irfan Pathan, whose 12-ball innings included three boundaries, scored 20. He was unbeaten. Lakshmipathy Balaji, whose six-ball innings included a six, was unbea‘ten’. Pakistan conceded 16 extras. India made 293 for the loss of seven wickets off 50 overs.

Each of the bowlers bowled five overs apiece. Razzaq, who conceded 54, was wicketless. Malik, who bowled 67, picked up a wicket. Akhtar, whose spell included a maiden, conceded 47. He picked up a wicket. 

Ahmed, whose spell included a maiden. He conceded 56, picking up a couple of wickets. Sami, whose spell included a maiden. He conceded 63, picking up three scalps.

Yasir Hameed, who faced five balls, scored a couple. Ten balls into the chase, Balaji broke the eight-run stand. Mohammad Yousuf had no reason to be in seventh heaven – he scored just a run. Seven balls later, he was trapped leg before wicket by Pathan, who broke the one-run stand.

Umar, whose 17-ball innings included three boundaries, scored 18. Twenty balls later, Pathan broke the 16-run stand. Pakistan scored 50 off 11.3 overs. Inzamam, who was batting on 22 at that point, was joined at the crease by Younis Khan.

Younis, whose 20-ball innings included a couple of boundaries, scored a dozen. Thirty-six balls later, he was caught by Yuvraj. Pathan broke the 33-run stand. Inzamam, whose 51-ball innings included five boundaries, scored 38. Fifty-one balls later, he was caught by Tendulkar. Murali Kartik broke the 29-run stand.

Razzaq, who faced nine balls, scored five. Twenty balls later, he was caught by Sehwag. Balaji broke the nine-run stand. Pakistan scored 100 off 25.3 overs. While Malik was batting on 18 at that point, Moin was batting on one.

They put on 50 off 59 balls for the seventh wicket. Pakistan scored 150 off 34.2 overs. While Malik was batting on 49 then, Moin was batting on 20. The former’s half-century – which included a couple of boundaries and a six – came off 72 balls.

Malik, whose 89-ball innings included three boundaries and a six, scored 65. A hundred and one balls later, he was caught by Kaif. Sehwag broke the 99-run partnership. 

Pakistan scored 200 off 41.2 overs. While Moin was batting on 46 at that point, Sami was batting on five. The latter, whose 17-ball innings included a six, scored 23. Thirty-four balls later, Zaheer Khan broke the 53-run partnership.

Moin’s half-century – which included four boundaries – came off 52 balls. Pakistan scored 250 off 46.4 overs. While Moin was batting on 70 then, Akhtar was batting on a couple. It was his eventual score.

Pakistan’s ninth-wicket pair put on a couple. Yuvraj ran Akhtar, who faced a couple of balls, out. Moin, whose 71-ball innings included five boundaries and a six, scored 72. Half-a-dozen balls later, Balaji broke the three-run stand. Ahmed, who faced a couple of balls, scored a run. He was unbeaten.

India conceded 14 extras. Pakistan, who were dismissed for 253 off 47.5 overs, lost by 40 runs. Tendulkar, who bowled five wicketless overs, conceded 27. Sehwag, who bowled four overs, conceded 29. He picked up a wicket. Zaheer, who bowled nine overs, conceded 54. He picked up a wicket.

Kartik, who bowled 10 overs, conceded 42. He picked up a wicket. Balaji, who bowled 9.5 overs, conceded 62. He picked up three scalps, as did Pathan, who bowled 1o overs, including a couple of maidens. He conceded 32.

India won the five-match series 3-2.

  

India (Sour)avenge losses to Pakistan

This was the (Gadda)first of the two One-day Internationals hosted by Lahore during India’s historic tour of Pakistan in 2004. India made one change to their playing eleven – Ramesh Powar made way for Murali Kartik.

Pakistan made no changes to the eleven that last played the Indians. On winning the toss, Inzamam-ul-Haq, their skipper and the player of the match, chose to bat. Shahid Afridi, who faced 10 balls, scored three. Fourteen balls into the match, he was caught by Yuvraj Singh. Irfan Pathan broke the eight-run stand.

Mohammad Yousuf, whose 19-ball innings included a boundary, scored nine. Forty balls later, he was trapped leg before wicket by Pathan, who broke the 31-run stand. Pakistan scored 50 off 11.5 overs.

Yasir Hameed, whose 68-ball innings included five boundaries, scored 45. A dozen overs later, he was stumped by Rahul Dravid. Kartik broke the 50-run partnership. 

Pakistan scored 100 off 23.5 overs and 150 off 32.2 overs. Younis Khan, whose 48-ball innings included a boundary, scored 36. Eighteen overs later, he was caught by Pathan. Kartik broke the 105-run partnership.

Pakistan scored 250 off 45.5 overs. Inzamam, whose 121-ball innings included nine boundaries and four sixes, scored 123. Forty-six balls later, Lakshmipathy Balaji broke the 70-run partnership.

The sixth-wicket pair didn’t get off the mark. Moin Khan, who faced a couple of balls, didn’t open his account. A couple of balls later, he was dismissed by Balaji. Abdul Razzaq, whose 24-ball (Sach)innings included a couple of boundaries and a six, scored 32. Ten balls later, he was caught by Mohammad Kaif. Tendulkar broke the 19-run stand.

Shoaib Malik, whose eight-ball innings included a couple of boundaries, scored 13. Four balls later, he was caught by Kaif. Needless to say, Zaheer Khan was in seventh heaven. Shoaib Akhtar, who faced four balls, scored a couple. Three balls later, Khan broke the two-run stand.

Mohammad Sami, who didn’t face a ball, was unbeaten. Shabbir Ahmed, who faced a ball, didn’t get off the mark. He was unbeaten. India conceded 30 extras. Pakistan scored 293 for the loss of nine wickets off 50 overs. Yuvraj, who bowled a couple of wicketless overs, conceded 18. Tendulkar, who bowled eight overs, conceded 48. He picked up a wicket.

Balaji and Zaheer bowled 10 overs each, picking up a couple of wickets apiece. While the former conceded 64, the latter conceded 43. Pathan and Kartik bowled 10 overs, including a maiden, each, picking up a couple of wickets apiece. While the former conceded 53, the latter conceded 48.

Although his 13-ball innings included a boundary, Tendulkar wasn’t in seventh heaven – 25 balls later, he was caught by Moin. Akhtar broke the 34-run stand.

India scored 50 off 6.3 overs. V V S Laxman, whose 18-ball innings included four boundaries, scored 20. Twenty-seven balls later, Akhtar broke the 35-run stand. Virender Sehwag, whose 29-ball innings included five boundaries, scored 26. Eight balls later, he was caught by Younis. Sami broke the six-run stand.

Sourav Ganguly, India’s skipper, scored 21. His 15-ball innings included a couple of boundaries and a six. Three balls later, he was caught by Moin. Razzaq broke the 19-run stand. Dravid, whose 92-ball innings included nine boundaries, scored 76. He was unbeaten.

Yuvraj, whose 35-ball innings included five boundaries, scored 36. Sixty-four balls later, he was caught by Yousuf. Sami broke the 68-run partnership. Kaif, whose 77-ball innings included eight boundaries, scored 71. He was unbeaten.

Pakistan conceded 37 extras. India, who scored 294 for the loss of five wickets off 45 overs, won by five wickets with five overs to spare. Afridi, who bowled five wicketless overs, conceded 30. Ahmed and Malik bowled seven wicketless overs apiece. While the former conceded 62, the latter conceded 38.

Razzaq, who bowled seven overs, conceded 42. He picked up a wicket. Akhtar bowled nine overs, including a maiden. He conceded 63, picking up two wickets. Sami, who bowled 10 overs, conceded 50. He picked up a couple of scalps.

India levelled the five-match series 2-2.  





   

Pakistan beat Dada-led India again

This was the third time Peshawar has hosting an India-Pakistan One-day International, but while the first (in 1984) was abandoned owing to the assassination of India’s prime minister, Indira Gandhi, the second (in 1989) was cancelled due to bad light.

Not only did the teams take the field on this occasion, but there was a full match too. India made one change to their playing eleven – Ashish Nehra made way for Irfan Pathan. Pakistan made no changes to the eleven that last played the Indians.

On winning the toss, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Pakistan’s skipper, inserted the Indians. Tendulkar, who faced five balls, didn’t get off the mark. Nine ballS(ach)into the match, he was caught by Moin Khan. Shabbir Ahmed broke the eight-run stand.

Virender Sehwag, whose 18-ball innings included three boundaries, scored 13. Twenty-six balls later, he was caught by Shahid Afridi. Ahmed broke the 22-run stand. V V S Laxman, who faced 20 balls, scored three. A dozen balls later, Ahmed had a reason to be in seventh heaven.

While India scored 50 off 12.1 overs, they scored 100 off 21.5 overs. Sourav Ganguly, India’s skipper, scored 39. His 41-ball innings included five boundaries and a six. Ninety-two balls later, he was caught by Moin. Abdul Razzaq broke the 68-run partnership.

Rahul Dravid, whose 86-ball innings included four boundaries, scored 33. Fifty-five balls later, he was caught by Moin. Shoaib Malik broke the 34-run stand. Mohammad Kaif, who faced four balls, scored a run. Five balls later, he was trapped leg before wicket by Razzaq, who broke the one-run stand.

India scored 150 off 35.5 overs. Ramesh Powar, whose 18-ball innings included a couple of boundaries, scored 14. Thirty-three balls later, he was trapped leg before wicket by Malik, who broke the 27-run stand. Pathan, whose 21-ball innings included a six, scored 16. Forty-five balls later, Shoaib Akhtar broke the 31-run stand. 

Yuvraj Singh, whose 76-ball innings included seven boundaries and a six, scored 65. His 50 – which included half-a-dozen boundaries – came off 70 balls. Nineteen balls later, he was caught by Mohammad Yousuf. Mohammad Sami broke the 39-run stand.

Lakshmipathy Balaji, whose 12-ball innings included three boundaries and a six, scored 21. He was unbeaten, as was Zaheer Khan, who scored half-a-dozen. His three-ball innings included a boundary.

Pakistan conceded 33 extras. India scored 244 for the loss of nine wickets off 50 overs. Each of the bowlers bowled 10 overs apiece. Sami and Akhtar picked up a wicket apiece. While the former conceded 71, the latter conceded 50.

Razzaq and Malik picked up two wickets apiece. While the former, whose spell included a maiden, conceded 44, the latter conceded 40. Ahmed, who conceded 33, picked up three scalps.

Afridi, whose five-ball innings included a boundary, scored half-a-dozen. Thirteen balls into the chase, Pathan broke the 14-run stand. Yousuf, who faced 11 balls, scored just a couple. Twenty-seven balls later, he was caught by Laxman. Pathan broke the 15-run stand.

Pakistan’s 50 came off 10.5 overs. The third-wicket pair put on 26. Younis Khan, whose 16-ball innings included three boundaries, scored 18. Thirty-one balls later, Balaji ran him out. Malik, who faced 10 balls, scored two. Sixteen balls later, he was caught by Sehwag. Zaheer broke the 10-run stand.

While Pakistan’s 100 came off 20.1 overs, their 200 came off 41.3 overs. Inzamam, whose 40-ball innings included a boundary and a six, scored 28. A hundred and three balls later, he was trapped leg before wicket by Tendulkar, who broke the 91-run partnership.

Yasir Hameed, the player of the match, scored 98. His 116-ball innings included 14 boundaries. Nineteen balls later, he was caught by Yuvraj. Pathan broke the 17-run stand. Razzaq, whose 52-ball innings included seven boundaries, scored 53. He was unbeaten, as was Moin, who scored 22. His 34-ball innings included a boundary.

India conceded 18 extras. Pakistan, who scored 247 for the loss of half-a-dozen wickets off 47.2 overs, won by four wickets with 16 balls to spare. Yuvraj, who bowled a wicketless over, conceded nine. Powar, who bowled four wicketless overs, conceded 17. Ganguly, who bowled half-a-dozen wicketless overs, conceded 24.

Balaji, who bowled 9.2 wicketless overs, conceded 41. Tendulkar bowled eight overs, including a maiden. He conceded 31, picking up a wicket. Zaheer, who bowled nine overs, conceded 56. He picked up a wicket. Pathan, who bowled 10 overs, conceded 58. He picked up three scalps.

Pakistan led the five-match series 2-1.




    

Pakistan (Sour)avenge loss to India

India made a couple of changes to their playing eleven – Hemang Badani and Murali Kartik made way for V V S Laxman and One-day International debutant Ramesh Powar. Pakistan made a couple of changes to the eleven that last played the Indians – Imran Farhat and Naved-ul-Hasan made way for Shahid Afridi and Shabbir Ahmed.

On winning the toss, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Pakistan’s skipper, chose to bat. They scored 50 off 6.2 overs and 100 off 12.3 overs.

Afridi, whose 58-ball innings included 10 boundaries and four sixes, scored 80. His 50 – which included seven boundaries and a couple of sixes – came off 33 balls. A hundred and ten balls into the match, Yuvraj Singh broke the 138-run partnership.

Mohammad Yousuf, whose 26-ball innings included a couple of boundaries, scored 24. Sixty-four balls later, Yuvraj broke the 53-run partnership.

Pakistan scored 200 off 31.2 overs. The third-wicket pair put on 34. Yasir Hameed, whose 108-ball innings included nine boundaries and a six, scored 86. His 50 – which included eight boundaries – came off 56 balls. Half-a-dozen overs later, Ashish and Yuvraj (Neh)ran him out.

Inzamam, whose 34-ball innings included a boundary and a six, scored 29. Twenty-five balls later, Nehra broke the 24-run stand. The fifth-wicket pair didn’t get off the mark. Moin Khan, who faced a ball, didn’t open his account. The next ball, he was trapped leg before wicket by Nehra. Pakistan scored 250 off 40 overs.

Younis Khan, whose run-a-ball innings included a boundary, scored 28. Thirty-nine balls later, he was caught by Rahul Dravid. Nehra broke the 35-run stand. Shoaib Malik, whose 28-ball innings included a couple of boundaries, scored 30. He was unbeaten, as was Abdul Razzaq, who scored 31. His 18-ball innings included four boundaries.

India conceded 21 extras. Pakistan scored 329 for the loss of half-a-dozen wickets off 50 overs. Virender Sehwag, who bowled five wicketless overs, conceded 39. Lakshmipathy Balaji, who bowled half-a-dozen wicketless overs, conceded 47. 

Sachin Tendulkar, the player of the match, and Powar bowled half-a-dozen wicketless overs apiece. While the former conceded 45, the latter conceded 35. Zaheer Khan, who bowled seven wicketless overs, conceded 72.

Yuvraj bowled 10 overs, including a maiden. He conceded 42, picking up a couple of wickets. Nehra, who bowled 10 overs, conceded 44. He picked up three scalps.

Sehwag, whose 21-ball innings included four boundaries, scored 26. Forty-nine balls later, Shoaib Akhtar – a.k.a. The Rawalpindi Express – broke the 56-run partnership. Laxman and no reason to be in seventh heaven – he scored just four. Twenty-one balls later, he was trapped leg before wicket by Mohammad Sami, who broke the 15-run stand.

India scored 100 off 17.4 overs. Sourav Ganguly, India’s skipper, whose 38-ball innings included a boundary, scored 15. Seventy-three balls later, he was stumped by Moin. Afridi broke the 69-run partnership.

India scored 200 off 33.1 overs. Tendulkar, whose 135-ball innings included 17 boundaries and the only six of the innings, scored 141. Eighty-nine balls later, he was caught by Razzaq. Malik broke the 105-run partnership.

Dravid, whose 45-ball innings included a couple of boundaries, scored 36. Nineteen balls later, Sami broke the 15-run stand. Yuvraj, whose 20-ball innings included a couple of boundaries, scored 19. Eighteen balls later, he was caught by Ahmed. Afridi broke the 22-run stand.

Mohammad Kaif, who faced nine balls, had no reason to be in seventh heaven – four balls later, he was caught by Malik. Akhtar broke the two-run stand. Powar, whose 11-ball innings included three boundaries, scored 18. He was unbeaten.

The eighth-wicket pair didn’t get off the mark. Zaheer, who faced a ball, didn’t open his account. The next ball, he was trapped leg before wicket by Akhtar. The ninth-wicket pair put on 30. Balaji, whose 10-ball innings included three boundaries, scored 14. Fifteen balls later, Yousuf and Sami ran him out.

Nehra, who faced a ball, didn’t get off the mark. Three balls later, Sami broke the run-a-ball stand. Pakistan conceded 37 extras. India, who were dismissed for 317 off 48.4 overs, lost by 12 runs. Razzaq, who bowled three overs, conceded 22. He was wicketless, as was Ahmed, who bowled nine overs, conceding 65.

Malik, who bowled 10 overs, conceded 59. He picked up a wicket. Afridi, who bowled eight overs, conceded 57. He picked up a couple of wickets. Akhtar bowled nine overs, including a maiden. He conceded 49, picking up three wickets. Sami bowled 9.4 overs, including a maiden. He conceded 41, picking up three scalps.

Pakistan levelled the five-match series 1-1.

    

Dada-led India notch uP(akist)anarrow win

India made a couple of changes to their playing eleven – V V S Laxman and Irfan Pathan made way for Mohammad Kaif and Zaheer Khan.

Pakistan made half-a-dozen changes to the eleven that last played the Indians – Saeed Anwar, Taufeeq Umar, Shahid Afridi, Rashid Latif, Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis (Moham)made way for Yasir Hameed, Imran Farhat, Moin Khan, Shoaib Malik, Naved-ul-Hasan and Sami.

On winning the toss, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Pakistan’s skipper and the player of the match, inserted the Indians, who scored 50 off 5.3 overs. While Virender Sehwag had scored 23 at that point. Sachin Tendulkar had scored 18.

Tendulkar, whose 35-ball innings included four boundaries and a six, scored 28. Nine overs into the match, he was caught by Naved. Shoaib Akhtar broke the 69-run partnership.

India scored 100 off 10.2 overs. While Sehwag was batting on 48, Sourav Ganguly, India’s skipper, hadn’t opened his account. The former, whose 57-ball innings included 14 boundaries and a six, scored 79. Thirty-two balls later, Naved broke the 73-run partnership.

Ganguly, whose 47-ball innings included three boundaries and a couple of sixes, scored 45. Seventy-two balls later, he was caught by Naved, who broke the run-a-ball stand. Yuvraj Singh, who faced nine balls, scored three. Fourteen balls later, he was caught by Hameed. Naved broke the six-run stand.

Rahul Dravid, whose 104-ball innings included eight boundaries, scored 99. A hundred and fifteen balls later, Akhtar broke the 118-run partnership. Kaif, whose 56-ball innings included four boundaries, scored 46. Four balls later, he was trapped leg before wicket by Sami.

Hemang Badani, whose five-ball innings included a boundary, scored eight. He was unbeaten. The seventh-wicket pair didn’t get off the mark. Zaheer, who faced a couple of balls, didn’t open his account. A couple of balls later, he was dismissed by Sami. Murali Kartik, who faced five balls, scored three. He was unbeaten.

Pakistan conceded 38 extras. India scored 349 for the loss of seven wickets off 50 overs. Hameed, who bowled a wicketless over, conceded half-a-dozen. Abdul Razzaq, who bowled nine wicketless overs, conceded 83. Malik, who bowled 10 wicketless overs, conceded 50.

Sami and Akhtar bowled 10 overs each, picking up a couple of wickets apiece. While the former conceded 74, the latter conceded 55. Naved, who bowled 10 overs, conceded 73. He picked up three scalps.

Hameed, who faced 13 balls, had no reason to be in seventh heaven – 38 balls into the chase, Lakshmipathy Balaji broke the 32-run stand. Farhat, whose 29-ball innings included four boundaries, scored 24. Eight balls later, he was caught by Dravid. Zaheer broke the two-run stand.

Mohammad Yousuf, whose 68-ball innings included five boundaries and four sixes, scored 73. A hundred and twenty balls later, he was caught by the substitute, Pathan. Sehwag broke the 135-run partnership.

Inzamam, whose 102-ball innings included 12 boundaries and a couple of sixes, scored 122. A hundred and one balls later, he was caught by Dravid. Kartik broke the 109-run partnership.

Younis Khan, whose 48-ball innings included four boundaries and a six, scored 46. Sixteen balls later, Kartik broke the 27-run stand. Razzaq, whose 16-ball innings included a couple of boundaries and a six, scored 27. Eleven balls later, Zaheer broke the 17-run stand.

Malik, who faced five balls, had no reason to be in seventh heaven – 13 balls later, he was caught by Kaif. Zaheer broke the 18-run stand. Moin, who faced 17 balls, scored 16. Seven balls later, he was caught by Zaheer. Ashish Nehra broke the four-run stand. Naved, who faced four balls, scored three. He was unbeaten.

India conceded 19 extras. Pakistan, who scored 344 for the loss of eight wickets off 50 overs, lost by five runs. Ganguly bowled an over, conceding 14. He was wicketless, as was Tendulkar, who bowled three overs, conceding 34. Sehwag bowled half-a-dozen overs, conceding 32. He picked up a wicket.

Nehra and Balaji bowled 10 overs each, picking up a wicket apiece. While the former conceded 58, the latter, whose spell included a maiden, conceded 56. Kartik bowled 10 overs, conceding 74. He picked up two wickets. Zaheer bowled 10 overs, conceding 66. He picked up three scalps.

India led the five-match series 1-0.