Dhoni-led India beat Pakistan, lead

India made one change to their playing eleven – Virender Sehwag made for Murali Kartik. Pakistan made one change to the eleven that last played the Indians – Rao Iftikhar Anjum made way for Abdur Rehman.

On winning the toss, Shoaib Malik, Pakistan’s skipper, inserted the hosts, whose openers put on 50 off 7.1 overs (46 balls). Pakistan had conceded nine extras at that point. While Sourav Ganguly’s contribution to the partnership was 24, Sachin Tendulkar’s contribution to it was 18.

The second Powerplay of India’s innings was between the 11^th and the 15^th over. Tendulkar, whose 27-ball innings included five boundaries, eventually scored 29. Sixty-four balls into the match, he was caught by Kamran Akmal. Sohail Tanvir broke the 68-run partnership.

Thirteen overs into the match, the first drinks break was taken. India had scored 79 for the loss of a wicket at that point. While Ganguly was batting on 37, Gautam Gambhir was batting on three. Ganguly, whose 46-ball innings included four boundaries and a six, eventually scored 39. Twenty-one balls later, Tanvir broke the 14-run stand.

The third Powerplay of India’s innings was between the 16^th and the 20^th over. India scored 100 off 19.4 overs (123 balls). Pakistan had conceded 11 extras at that point. Gambhir, whose 49-ball innings included a boundary, eventually scored 25. Eighty-three balls later, Rehman broke the 47-run stand.

Thirty-one overs into the match, the second drinks break was taken. India had scored 140 for the loss of three wickets at that point. While Yuvraj Singh, the player of the match, was batting on 27, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, India’s skipper, was batting on eight.

India scored 150 off 33.5 overs (209 balls). Pakistan had conceded a dozen extras at that point. The fourth-wicket pair put on 50 off 52 balls. While Yuvraj’s contribution to the partnership was 17, Dhoni’s contribution to it was 29. Extras’ contribution to the partnership was eight.

India scored 200 off 38.3 overs (242 balls). Pakistan had conceded 22 extras at that point. Yuvraj’s half-century – which included three boundaries and a couple of sixes – came off 77 balls.

The fourth-wicket pair put on 100 off 96 balls. While Yuvraj’s contribution to the partnership was 39, Dhoni’s contribution to it was 49. Extras’ contribution to the partnership was a dozen.

The man from Ranchi, whose 52-ball innings included four boundaries and a couple of sixes, didn’t add to the aforementioned score. (Dho)Ninety-one balls after Gambhir’s dismissal, Shoaib Akhtar broke the 100-run partnership.

India scored 250 off 45,5 overs (287 balls). Pakistan had conceded 24 extras at that point. Yuvraj, whose 95-ball innings included four boundaries and three sixes, eventually scored 77. Twenty overs later, he was caught by Misbah-ul-Haq. Rehman broke the 31-run stand.

Uthappa, whose 17-ball (Rob)innings included a boundary and a six, scored 19. Five balls later, Umar Gul broke the run-a-ball stand. Irfan Pathan, who scored 17, had a reason to be in seventh heaven – his innings included a couple of sixes. He was unbeaten, as was Harbhajan Singh, who faced 10 balls, scoring as many.

Pakistan eventually conceded 29 extras. India scored 294 for the loss of half-a-dozen wickets off 50 overs. Malik bowled half-a-dozen wicketless overs, including a maiden. He conceded 33. Shahid Afridi, who bowled seven wicketless overs, conceded 57.

Gul and Akhtar (whose spell included a maiden) bowled 10 overs each, picking up a wicket apiece. While the former conceded 70, the latter conceded 41. Rehman, who bowled seven overs, conceded 58. He picked up a couple of scalps, as was Tanvir, who bowled 10 overs, including a maiden. He conceded 26.

Although his innings included a couple of boundaries, Boom Boom had no reason to be in seventh heaven – he scored just a dozen. Twenty balls into the chase, he was (Afri)dismissed by Pathan, who broke the 27-run stand.

Pakistan scored 50 off 6.2 overs (39 balls). India had conceded an extra at that point. Younis Khan, whose run-a-ball innings included four boundaries, scored 21. Thirty-four balls after Afridi’s dismissal, R P Singh broke the 65-run partnership.

The second Powerplay of Pakistan’s innings was between the 11^th and the 15^th over. Fifteen overs into the chase, the first drinks break was taken. Pakistan had scored 90 for the loss of a couple of wickets at that point. While Salman Butt was batting on 44, Mohammad Yousuf was batting on a dozen.

The third Powerplay of Pakistan’s innings was between the 16^th and the 20^th over. Butt’s half-century – which included 10 boundaries – came off 48 balls. Pakistan scored 100 off 16.3 overs (100 balls). India had conceded an extra at that point.

The third-wicket pair put on 32. Yousuf, whose 24-ball innings included a couple of boundaries, scored 16. Fifty-two balls after Younis’ dismissal, Yuvraj ran him out. Malik, whose 32-ball innings included a couple of boundaries, scored a dozen. Fifty-nine balls later, he was trapped leg before wicket by Yuvraj, who broke the 30-run stand.

Thirty-two overs into the chase, the second drinks break was taken. Pakistan had scored 147 for the loss of four wickets at that point. While Butt was batting on 69, Misbah was in seventh heaven.

Pakistan scored 150 off 32.3 overs (201 balls). India had conceded 11 extras at that point. The fifth-wicket pair put on 50 off 63 balls. While Butt’s contribution to the partnership was 28, Misbah’s contribution to it was 19. Extras’ contribution to the partnership was three.

Pakistan scored 200 off 40.1 overs (248 balls). India had conceded a dozen extras at that point. Misbah, whose 47-ball innings included a couple of boundaries, eventually scored 38. Eighty-seven balls after Malik’s dismissal, Kartik broke the 80-run partnership.

Akmal, who faced a couple of balls, scored as many. Ten balls later, he was caught by Harbhajan. R P broke the 12-run stand. The seventh-wicket pair put on five. Tanvir D(hon)idn’t face a ball. A couple of balls later, R P and the man from Ranchi ran him out.

Rehman, who faced five balls, scored a couple. A couple of overs later, Singh broke the 13-run stand. Butt – whose century (which included 14 boundaries) came off 118 balls – eventually scored 129. His 142-ball innings included 17 boundaries. Five balls later, he was trapped leg before wicket by Harbhajan, who broke the two-run stand.

Akhtar, who faced a couple of balls, scored a run. Three balls later, he was caught by the substitute, Rohit Sharma. Zaheer broke the two-run stand. Gul, who faced a couple of balls, scored as many. He was unbeaten.

India eventually conceded 13 extras. Pakistan, who were dismissed for 248 off 47.2 overs, lost by 46 runs. Tendulkar bowled a wicketless over, conceding 11. Yuvraj bowled five overs, conceding 18. He picked up a wicket. Kartik bowled half-a-dozen overs, conceding 38. He picked up a wicket.

Zaheer bowled 7.2 overs, including two maidens. He conceded 25, picking up a wicket. Pathan and Harbhajan bowled 10 overs each, picking up a wicket apiece. While the former conceded 61, the latter conceded 32. R P bowled eight overs, including a maiden. He conceded 62, picking up three scalps.

India led the five-match series 2-1.