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India cruise through easily |
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Written by Rasesh
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Saturday, 11 February 2006 |
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 Pakistan started very badly with the centurian in the last match getting out without troubling the scoreboard. A slower one angled across tempted Kamran Akmal to go for the cut. He was playing for the angle but the ball came in a bit and he chopped it on to the stumps. The score that time was 43/2. India had the home side on the mat at about 60 and the top four batsmen in the pavillion.
Except Shoiab Malik and Younis Khan nobody looked like saving them from an embarrasment and thats what exactly happened.
Pakistan collapsed thereafter, despite cameos from Afridi, Razzaq and Gul. Sreesanth bowled wonderfully well in the final stages, giving away just 11 in 4. When Younis played a rash stroke to get out at cover point, it was certain that Pakistan would finish well short of their expectations.
Shoaibs batting has come off great averaging about 50 last year. Pakistan needed atleast 320 on this flat track. What really hurt Pakistan were the four run-outs. The fieding was excellent by the Indians with not a single drop catch and good ground fielding too.
Later on in an interview Bob woolmer, the Pakistan coach admitted that they had misread the pitch and should have looked to chasing on this pitch rather than setting India a target.
India were set the target of 266.
Sehwag and Tendulkar provided a rolicking start to the innings, especially Sehwag looking extremely good on both sides of the wicket. Tendulkar looked like he was back in the 90's when he used to hit the fast bowlers over mid-on and mid-off.
After the superb start and the 100 run partnership Sachin was soon dismissed for 42 and Sehwag soon followed with the score at 123/2.
It looked like Pakistan could make an unlikely comeback in the match, but these hopes were shattered as Dravid and Yuvraj stuck at the crease for sometime. They played very well taking minimal risks and kept the scoreboard ticking all the time. Yuvraj looked in good touch punishing almost every bad ball from the bowlers.
In no time Dravid reached his fifty and India were crusing along. India soon finished with the all familiar sight of Yuvraj and Kaif at the crease finishing off the task. A very professional innings from him scoring a valuable 82 not out.
Looking at the Pakistan batting card, there certainly seems to be a problem, with Inzamam playing at number 5 a bit too low down the order for the best batsmen in the team. Younis khan who averages so high versus India plays at number 6. The team should certainly look at having these two playing higher up in the list.
Irfan pathan was the Man of the match with a tremendous performance taking 3 very crucial wickets.
Photos of the 2nd ODI at Rawalpindi, Pakistan v India
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Last Updated ( Saturday, 11 February 2006 )
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