Pakistan put aside all their off-field controversies to bounce back in emphatic style in the triangular Kitply Cup final as a 205-run second-wicket stand between Salman Butt and Younis Khan left India up against a daunting task of scoring 316 runs to win under floodlights at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur yesterday.
India were still in the hunt though remotely despite losing their dashing opener Virender Sehwag (2) early in their chase with their captain Mehendra Singh Dhoni batting on 25 and with him the last recognised batsman Irfan Pathan on 21. The situation after 41 overs was India 238-6, still needing 77 runs from 54 balls.
India’s terrific chase suffered a crucial blow when Yuvraj Singh was out caught behind off Shahid Afridi after scoring a quickfire 56 that contained five fours and a six.
Earlier, a sharp spell of rain came after Pakistan skipper Shoaib Malik won the toss and decided to bat without a second thought. With the rain gone the covers were taken off immediately to start the game on time and when it got started an electrifying atmosphere gripped the chock-e-bloke holiday crowd at the Big Bowl.
Pakistan, smarting under their huge 140-run defeat in the league match against India, started nervously but at the end of their full quota of 50 overs they posted one run more of their last final against their bitter rivals. In the 1998 Independence Cup final Pakistan scored 314 at the Bangabandhu National Stadium that India chased down in one of the finest finals one-day cricket has ever seen.
It was however India who started off well with their new ball bowlers Praveen Kumar and Ishant Sharma not only keeping thing quiet but also made sure Pakistan could score 34-1 in the first ten overs.
But Pakistan turned the match on its head when Younis Khan with a pair under his belt strode on just to remind their uncanny abilities as the unpredictable team.
If Butt lived up to his reputation as the boggy batsman of India, against whom he slammed five hundreds out of his seven previous games, then veteran Younis thought that it was the right time for him to bounce back from two disappointing ducks.
The two batsmen were as cautious as they could be while facing the seam bowlers, especially Praveen, but came out of their shell once the spinners were introduced. Leg-spinner Piyush Chawla faced the wrath most during his 10-over spell as the young bowler went for 85 runs.
Younis did exactly what he wanted and he was exceptionally ruthless during his 99-ball 108 that contained eight boundaries and three huge sixes.
It was the fourth one-day hundred for the right-hander, second against the Indians.
On the other hand, left-handed Butt was clinical in his batting and in his 136-ball 129 he gave only one difficult chance while he was on 19 when Rohit Sharma failed to hold him at cover-point off Praveen.
The young opener, who smote 12 boundaries and three sixes, however left the field retired hurt with a cramp in the 46th over. Misbahul Haq, in the mean time, hit a cameo 33 off 21 balls which featured four fours and a six against none other than Chawla over long-off.
Praveen was the most economical India bowler, conceding 37 runs in ten overs while Irfan claimed two wickets for 59 runs.
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