Star batsman Sachin Tendulkar missed a century on Monday but anchored India to a five-wicket win over Pakistan, with Mahendra Dhoni and Yuvraj Singh also scoring belligerent half-centuries in the third limited-overs international.
The victory gave India a 2-1 lead over Pakistan in the five-match series after the home team won the opening game by seven runs and India came back strongly with a seven-wicket win at Rawalpindi on Saturday.
Tendulkar smashed 95 off 104 balls while Dhoni’s (72 not out) breathtaking innings off 46 balls with 13 boundaries put behind Yuvraj’s unbeaten 79 as India galloped to 292 for five in 47,4 overs. Shoaib Malik’s century had earlier guided Pakistan to 288 for eight of their 50 overs.
About 3 000 Indian fans, who had crossed the border over the past two days to watch the day-night game at Gaddafi Stadium, got an early jolt to their team’s run-chase when fast-bowler Mohammad Asif removed opener Gautam Gambhir and Irfan Pathan in the space of three deliveries.
However, Tendulkar consolidated the innings when he added 72 runs with captain Rahul Dravid (22) and then put on 105 runs with left-handed Yuvraj off only 94 balls.
Pakistan lost an ideal opportunity to get rid of Tendulkar on 36 when wicketkeeper Karman Akmal could not hold on to a catch down the legside before the master Indian batsmen cut lose and hammered 16 fours and a six.
Dhoni took charge after Tendulkar departed in the 34th over with India still needing 100 runs for victory. He dominated a 102-run match-winning stand with Yuvraj off 79 balls and brought up the victory with a pulled boundary in the 48th over.
Earlier, Malik’s run of good batting form continued when he guided Pakistan to a fighting total.
Malik, who scored 90 and 95 in the previous two games, hit 11 fours and a six in his 120-ball 108 — the right-hander’s fifth century in his 110th limited-overs game.
Indian fielders dropped at least four catches that included Gambhir’s crucial dropped catch of Malik on 12 after Dravid won the first toss of the series and put Pakistan into bat.
Fast-bowler Sri Sreesanth could have got three wickets, but Mohammad Kaif, Dravid and Gambhir all spilled chances in the slip cordon as the right-arm Indian paceman finished with 0-74.
Despite shoddy fielding, India did well to reduce Pakistan to 158 for six in the 33rd over through Pathan (3-49) and Rudra Pratap Singh (3-51) before Malik and Abdul Razzaq accelerated and put on 86 runs off 79 balls.
Super sub Zaheer Khan, who replaced Ajit Agarkar late in the Pakistan innings, conceded 36 runs off his four overs. Razzaq belted seven boundaries and hit two successive sixes off Pathan in his unbeaten knock of 64 off 56 balls as Pakistan scored 89 runs in the last 10 overs.
Malik was finally caught by Dravid in the 46th over, but Razzaq’s late assault gave Pakistan a fighting total.
The fourth match will be played at Multan on February 16 before the series ends at Karachi on February 19. — Sapa-AP