Mohammad Yousuf and Salman Butt hit half-centuries to help Pakistan reach a competitive 239-7 in the opening one-day international against India on Monday.
Middle-order batsman Yousuf, dropped on 10, top-scored with an unbeaten 83 while left-handed opener Butt hit a brisk 50 in his comeback match to sustain their team’s hopes on a low, slow pitch.
Pakistan were struggling against disciplined Indian spin bowling before Yousuf propped up the innings, adding 59 for the fourth wicket with Shahid Afridi and 68 for the sixth with Misbah-ul-Haq (27).
Part-time spinner Sachin Tendulkar dismissed hard-hitting Afridi and skipper Shoaib Malik just when Pakistan threatened to go for big shots in a bid to neutralise India’s advantage.
Afridi hit the match’s first six off left-arm seamer Zaheer Khan but did not last long. He was stumped after hitting a 32-ball 31, while Malik (two) swung a full-toss straight to Gautam Gambhir at deep mid-wicket.
Off-spinner Harbhajan Singh conceded just 29 off 10 overs and left-arm spinner Murali Kartik 36 off 10 to make the Pakistani batsmen struggle for runs on a pitch where the ball hardly came on to the bat.
India looked in control after impressive spells from Harbhajan, Kartik and Tendulkar, but Yousuf kept his end intact and helped his side score 74 in the closing 10 overs.
Butt, dropped for the recent home one-day series against South Africa, did the bulk of scoring in the initial overs and executed some handsome strokes against new-ball bowlers Zaheer Khan and Rudra Pratap Singh.
He put on 44 for the opening wicket in 10 overs with Kamran Akmal before his team lost their way against the Indian spinners. He struck eight fours in his 57-ball knock for his fifth half-century.
Vice-captain Younis Khan failed to hit a boundary in his 58-ball 25 before losing his patience and wicket. He tried a big shot off Harbhajan, but could not time it properly and was caught at long-on.
Yousuf struggled to score freely in middle overs against spin and was let off early in his innings when he mistimed a shot off Kartik, but Sourav Ganguly failed to reach the ball running to his right in the covers.
He made the most of the chance and went on to complete his 58th half-century. He hit seven fours in his 88-ball knock. – Sapa-AFP