Mahendra Dhoni’s confident century on Tuesday fashioned India’s 58-run victory over Pakistan in the second limited-overs international.
Dhoni, playing only his fifth one-dayer, punished the Pakistan attack for a 123-ball 148, his maiden one-day century, and boosted India to 356 for nine in 50 overs — its highest total against Pakistan.
In reply, Pakistan was bowled out for 298 in 44,1 overs, despite Abdul Razzaq’s belligerent 92-ball knock of 88 and Yousuf Youhana’s 71 off 56 deliveries.
Indian left-arm pace bowler Ashish Nehra claimed a haul of four for 72 and part-time left-arm spinner Yuvraj Singh took three for 55 as the hosts took a 2-0 lead in the six-match series.
India, which won Saturday’s opening contest by 87 runs, surpassed its previous best against one-day innings against Pakistan — 349 for seven at Karachi last year — as wicketkeeper/batsman Dhoni justified his promotion to the No. 3 slot by smashing four sixes and 16 boundaries.
Dhoni, 23, whose previous best knock was 12, also surpassed India’s previous top individual one-day score against Pakistan – 141 by Sourav Ganguly (Adelaide, 2000) and Sachin Tendulkar (Rawalpindi, 2004).
”Dhoni’s knock was brilliant, we knew he could score quickly and decided to promote him to No. 3 to utilise the initial 15 overs,” said skipper Ganguly.
Dhoni said he enjoyed his knock on a good batting track.
”There was a little pressure on me when I went out, but my senior partner Virender Sehwag took it away from me,” he said.
Dhoni put on 96 runs for the second wicket with Sehwag (74), who got two sixes and 12 boundaries from 40 deliveries.
Sehwag lost his opening partner Tendulkar for two in the fourth over after Ganguly elected to bat on winning the toss. Tendulkar was run out by Yousuf Youhana’s direct hit from a mid-on that left him just short of the crease at the non-striker’s end.
Sehwag raced to his half-century from 26 deliveries, before being caught by Salman Butt at short-midwicket off a Rana Naved-ul-Hasan ball.
Reaching his century off 88 balls, Dhoni threw a punch in the air and raised his bat to accept the applause from a capacity crowd of 26Â 000, but in the next over was sent scrambling to the ground for cover by a swarm of bees. All on-field players and umpires were forced to lie on the ground until the bees left.
Skipper Ganguly’s dismal run of scores continued as he was clean bowled for nine by Sami (1-65).
Dhoni fell in the 42nd when was caught by Shoaib Malik at mid-wicket off spinner Mohammed Hafeez (2-55).
Paceman Naved-ul-Hasan (3-54) dismissed Rahul Dravid (52) and Kaif in the space of four balls. Dravid was caught by Afridi on a backward square-leg and Kaif fell legs before wickets to the first ball he faced.
Pakistan made a poor start to its run chase as Afridi was bowled by Nehra for a second-ball duck.
Salman Butt (36) and Razzaq put together a brisk 84-run partnership for the second wicket before Butt top-edged an attempted pull shot off Nehra to Sehwag at point, and skipper Inzamam-ul-Haq (16) was run out after being sent back by Razzaq.
Razzaq maintained Pakistan’s run-chase, hitting one six and 13 boundaries before edging left-arm spinner Yuvraj Singh into Dhoni’s gloves.
Shoaib Malik (12) and Mohammed Hafeez (7) faltered, but Yousuf Youhana kept his team’s hopes alive until he skied the ball to Kaif at covers. Youhana’s departure, after hitting four sixes and two boundaries, signalled the end of Pakistan’s challenge.
”It wasn’t easy to bat second in these hot and humid conditions and we also had a big target in front,” Pakistan captain Inzamam said. ”We had a chance of attaining the target only if we went on for 50 overs.” — Sapa-AP