An outstanding 102-run partnership in just 79 balls between Yuvraj Singh and Mahendra Singh Dhoni made light of a difficult target as India romped by five wickets to take a 2-1 lead in the five-match series
The Bulletin by Siddhartha Vaidyanathan at Lahore13-Feb-2006
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
How they were out
Sachin Tendulkar’s 95 went a long way in ensuring that India got through a difficult situation early in their run-chase © AFP
An irresistible batting force swept across the floodlit Gaddafi Stadium asIndia produced a superbly-paced run-chase, clinching their 11thconsecutive win while chasing in a one-dayer to record a memorablefive-wicket triumph.Three dazzling half-centuries – with Sachin Tendulkar coating his with avarnish of genius, Yuvraj Singh reeking confidence from every pore, andMahendra Singh Dhoni jam-packing his with immense power – blended into anintoxicating mix as India cruised to an imposing 289 and ran away to a 2-1lead in the series.Pakistan played a part in a sensational contest between bat and ball -Shoaib Malik and Abdul Razzaq dug them out of a rut while Mohammad Asifand Umar Gul put in an outstanding new-ball display – but they fell apartin the face of the Indian batting juggernaut, one that was unstoppable onthis day.Chasing 289 under overcast skies, with the ball deviously snaking around,was never going to be easy and Asif conjured up a few magical balls toreduce India to 12 for 2. What stunned Pakistan, though, was the sublimetouch of Tendulkar and his textbook-perfect judgment blended with dazzlingstrokeplay in a truly magnificent innings.He was lucky twice – first when Asif, at third man, couldn’t get his handson a hard chance and later, on 36, when Kamran Akmal grassed a regulationchance down the leg side – but his impeccable defensive methods made himstand apart. Unlike Dravid, who looked mostly lost against a magnificentspell of seam bowling, Tendulkar left with precision and displayed signsof his vintage best.The attacking strokes were reeled off with a stamp of the emphatic -cover-drives drawing wonderous gasps, straight-drives automaticallybringing the hands together in applause, back-foot pulls reminiscent of alittle lad who charmed a nation, and the impish improvisation that leftthe bowlers aghast and helpless. He left with the platform all set, readyfor two wonder kids to seal the issue.And seal it they did. In an incandescent exhibition in the glitteringnight, Yuvraj and Dhoni clattered 102 in just 79 balls, clinicallydismantling the bowling attack. Rana was singled out for punishment, withhis eight overs being hammered to the tune of 72 runs, while Asif andYasir Arafat were also taken apart later on.While Tendulkar was sparkling at one end, Yuvraj provided a fizz of hisown, creaming boundary after astonishing boundary in a thundering innings.His fifty came in 49 balls, fours sprinkled to all corners, struck with aforce rivaling any all day, and he soon settled into a cruise mode withvictory well within sights.But the real zinger of a knock came from Dhoni, peeling off a whirlwind 79in just 46 balls, pelting one-handed fours past cover, ripping forehandsdown the lines past the bowler, plundering boundaries at will and leavingonly one possible result. Dhoni batted with a sense of inevitability andat no point of time did he look hurried or tense. His original strokeplaywould leave most bowling attacks flabbergasted but the one thing that canleave the opposition hopeless is his calm under a crisis. Staggeringly, heeven found time to laugh and settled the issue with an emphatic pull offRazzaq, pumping his fists and celebrating a famous win.
India celebrate victory © AFP
Such a classic contest would not have been possible without Malik’s andRazzaq’s heroics earlier today. Having been inserted under overcast skies,most of Pakistan’s batsmen refused to get over the Rawalpindi rashness,succumbing to poor shot selection, but Malik’s composure and Razzaq’sdevastating swipes at the death lifted them to a healthy total. India’smedium-pace attack made the most of the conducive conditions and justifiedRahul Dravid’s decision to field but three dropped chances, all offSreesanth, and all within the first 15 overs, made their task that muchharder.Indian teams of the past have been tormented by a Malik, the cheeky Saleemwho could seamlessly shift gears and single-handedly steer the innings,but it’s been another Malik, the unruffled Shoaib, who has been theirnemesis off late. He was lucky on 12, when Gautam Gambhir grassed a lowchance at second slip, but he made up for it with his third 90-plus scorein as many games. Partners came and left in a hurry but he somehow keptthe rate hovering at close to five an over. Singles were stolen, twospoached, fours slyly manufactured and suddenly upped the rate.Razzaq soon joined in the flood, unleashing macho forehands past cover,and Pakistan were hurtling along at a rapid pace. Malik’s second fiftycame in just 40 balls, Razzaq’s fifty was blitzed in 51 and Pakistanjuddered 89 off the last 10 overs, recovering from the depths of 128 for5. On this day, though, no total might have been enough. The force, asthey say, was with only one team.PakistanSalman Butt c Gambhir b Pathan 0 (0 for 1)
Shahid Afridi c Kaif b Pathan 19 (39 for 2)
Kamran Akmal c Pathan b RP Singh 34 (75 for 3)
Mohammad Yousuf c Dhoni b RP Singh 1 (82 for 4)
Inzamam-ul-Haq c Dhoni b Tendulkar 16 (128 for 5)
Younis Khan c Dhoni b RP Singh 16 (158 for 6)
Shoaib Malik c Dravid b Pathan 108 (244 for 7)
Rana Naved-ul-Hasan run-out (RP Singh) 7 (277 for 8)
IndiaGambhir b Asif 2 (12 for 1)
Pathan c Akmal b Asif 0 (12 for 2)
Dravid run-out (Gul) 22 (84 for 3)
Sachin Tendulkar c Farhat (sub) b Razzaq 95 (189 for 4)
Mohammad Kaif lbw b Gul 2 (190 for 5)