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| April 20, 2006 | Thursday | Rabi-ul-Awwal 21, 1427 |
Cool Younis guides Pakistan to easy stroll in first ODI
ABU DHABI, April 19: Result of the first-ever One-day International at the Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium on Tuesday night was predictable unless Pakistani batsmen repeated the mistakes committed by the Indians earlier in the afternoon (partly reported in Wednesday’s edition).
As it transpired Pakistan strolled to a six-wicket success with nine balls to spare without ever being in danger of losing the match after India were dismissed for 197.
The victory also lifted the psychological advantage India had enjoyed after winning four successive matches on their way to 4-1 triumph in Pakistan earlier this year.
Apart from skipper Inzamamul Haq, who threw his wicket when well set, and Man-of-the-Match Younis Khan, illustrated that staying at the wicket was paramount to see their team through.
Even when Inzamam got out the result was never in doubt as the body language of the Indians suggested they were fighting for a lost cause.
Younis, so long a player messed around by Pakistan think tank, fashioned the victory by sensibly rotating the strike and reducing risky strokes although opener Imran Farhat and Inzamam played their part too.
Younis was a model of patience and the required run rate of around four was not going to be a problem as long as wickets were intact. Though he lost Imran for a well-played 30 bowled by a beauty from Ajit Agarkar and later Inzamam (40) and Mohammad Yousuf in quick successions, he kept one end intact with intelligent and sensible batting.
When Kamran Akmal eventually slammed the winning runs, Younis had moved to 71 – the highest score of the match – having consumed 96 balls. He struck four boundaries and the only six of the match – a towering hit that cleared the mid-wicket boundary off a disappointing Harbhajan Singh.
The Indian camp surely must be disappointed losing to Pakistan after having a tremendous run in the ODIs and will have to improve hundred per cent in every department to prevent Pakistan clinching the series.
In case Pakistan make it 2-0 on Wednesday it will be a sweet revenge for the recent mauling at home and a great confidence booster for an upcoming England tour.
Scoreboard
INDIA:
A.R. Uthappa c Yousuf b Rana Naved 12
R. Dravid run out 20
Irfan Pathan run out 26
Yuvraj Singh c Kamran b Rao Iftikhar 7
S.K. Raina c Rao Iftikhar b Afridi 40
Y. Venugpal Rao not out 61
M. Dhoni b Shoaib 3
A.B. Agarkar c Rao Iftikhar b Shoaib 12
R.R. Powar c Rao Iftikhar b Shoaib 5
Harbhajan Singh run out 3
S. Sreesanth run out 0
EXTRAS (LB-3, W-5) 8
TOTAL (all out, 50 overs) 197
FALL OF WKTS: 1-25, 2-47, 3-65, 4-72, 5-136, 6-149, 7-171, 8-180, 9196.
BOWLING: Mohammad Asif 8-1-24-0; Rana Navedul Hasan 9-0-51-1 (1w); Rao Iftikhar 7-1-24-1; Abdul Razzaq 6-1-13-0; Shahid Afridi 10-0-42-1 (1w); Shoaib Malik 10-0-40-3 (3w).
PAKISTAN:
Shoaib Malik c Dravid b Sreesanth 12
Imran Farhat b Agarkar 30
Younis Khan not out 71
Inzamamul Haq c Rao b Powar 40
Mohammad Yousuf c Dhoni b Agarkar 1
Kamran Akmal not out 24
EXTRAS (LB-15, W-7, NB-1) 23
TOTAL (for four wkts, 48.3 overs) 201
FALL OF WKTS: 1-42, 2-60, 3-146, 4-149.
DID NOT BAT: Shahid Afridi, Abdul Razzaq, Rana Navedul Hasan, Rao Iftikhar, Mohammad Asif.
BOWLING: Irfan Pathan 9-1-46-0 (4w); Sreesanth 9.3-2-34-1 (1nb, 1w); Agarkar 10-0-33-2 (2w); Powar 10-1-27-1; Harbhajan Singh 10-1-46-0.
RESULT: Pakistan won by six wickets.
UMPIRES: R.E. Koertzen and B.G. Jerling (both South Africa).
TV UMPIRE: T.H. Wijewardene (Sri Lanka).
MATCH REFEREE: R.S. Mahanama (Sri Lanka).
MAN-OF-THE-MATCH: Younis Khan.
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