KOLKOTA, Nov 13: Salman Butt struck a maiden one-day century as Pakistan beat India by six wickets on Saturday in their first match on Indian soil in more than five years.
Butt, in his sixth one-dayer, scored 108 not out off 130 balls out of a total of 293 for four.
Captain Inzamam-ul-Haq added 75 to guide Pakistan home in front of nearly 100,000 people in a game celebrating the Indian cricket board's 75th anniversary. The 20-year-old Butt, who cracked 13 fours, had retired hurt on 68 with cramp but returned to seal the result with an over to spare as India's bowlers struggled with the dew under lights at the Eden Gardens.
All rounder Shoaib Malik added 61 for his ninth one-day half-century. Yuvraj Singh had earlier struck a blistering 78, with 10 fours and two sixes, as India posted 292 for six. Opener Virender Sehwag had given India early momentum with a quick fire 53.
In 2000, the Indian government banned all home and away cricket against Pakistan due to political tensions over the disputed region of Kashmir but relented in 2003 after a thaw in relations.
India toured Pakistan earlier this year. Pakistan's return trip for a full series is scheduled for February next year. India began their innings sedately after electing to bat but Sehwag got into his stride after Sachin Tendulkar (16) was run out whilst attempting a sharp single.
Sehwag cracked six fours and two sixes but it was Vangipurappu Laxman, with a run-a-ball 43, who dominated a stand of 82 for the second wicket with some sweetly timed on-drives.
The pair took India to 111 for one in just the 20th over before all rounder Shahid Afridi, bowling leg-spin, raised Pakistani hopes by dismissing both batsmen in quick succession.
But captain Saurav Ganguly and Rahul Dravid (16) cautiously steadied the innings before Yuvraj launched his onslaught. Yuvraj put on 74 with Ganguly (48) and added another 53 for the sixth wicket with Mohammad Kaif.
The 22-year-old was particularly harsh on Mohammad Sami, who went for 51 from his six overs, and continued to pile on the runs before his dismissal with just one ball remaining.
Pakistan wobbled early in their reply when Zaheer Khan removing Younis Khan for a duck, caught at first slip. But Malik and Butt took the initiative with a second-wicket stand of 113, keeping pace with the required run rate. Malik hit occasional spinner Sehwag for a six and a four off consecutive balls but fell in the same over, caught at short mid-wicket when he checked his drive.
Scoreboard
India
V.Sehwag b Shahid Afridi 53
S.Tendulkar run out 16
V.Laxman c Kamran Akmal b Afridi 43
S.Ganguly c Kamran b Shoaib Akhtar 48
R.Dravid c Afridi b Abdul Razzaq 16
Y.Singh c Younis b Naved-ul-Hasan 78
M.Kaif not out 14
I.Pathan not out 0
Extras (b-4 lb-6 w-11 nb-3) 24
Total (for six wkts, 50 overs) 292
Fall of wkts: 1-29 2-111 3-124 4-163
5-237 6-290
Did not bat: H.Singh, Z.Khan, A.Nehra
Bowling: Shoaib Akhtar 9-1-55-1 (nb-1
w-3), Naved-ul-Hasan 9-1-67-1 (nb-1 w-4), Mohammad Sami 6-0-51-0 (w-1), Shahid Afridi 10-0-29-2 (w-2), Shoaib Malik
6-0-31-0, Abdul Razzaq 10-0-49-1 (nb-1 w-1)
Pakistan
Salman Butt not out 108
Younis Khan c Sehwag b Khan 0
Shoaib Malik c Kaif b Sehwag 61
Inzamam-ul-Haq c Sehwag b Nehra 75
Yousuf Youhana c Dravid b Nehra 18
Abdul Razzaq not out 1
Extras (lb-5 w-23 nb-2) 30
Total (for four wkts, 49 overs) 293
Did not bat: Shahid Afridi, Kamran Akmal, Naved-ul-Hasan, Mohammad Sami, Shoaib Akhtar
