June 15, 2008	Sunday	Jamadi-us-Sani 10, 1429

DHAKA, June 14: Opener Salman Butt and Younis Khan cracked scintillating centuries to help Pakistan post a challenging 315-3 in the triangular one-day series final against India here on Saturday.

Left-handed Salman scored 129 before retiring hurt with cramps and Younis hit 108 in a magnificent display of stroke-making on a flat track after Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik elected to bat in the day/night final at the Shere Bangla National Stadium.

Pakistan, thrashed by India by a record 140 runs in the league round match of the tournament on Tuesday, raised their batting performance when it mattered most as both Younis and Salman put the attack to the sword during a 205-run stand for the second wicket.

Younis, who failed to open his account in the previous two games, made amends in the big match, dominating the Indian attack with bold shots on both sides of the wicket.

He was instrumental in stepping up the run-rate after Pakistan managed just 75 in the opening 20 overs. He hoisted part-time spinner Virender Sehwag for the first six and then hit two more sixes off leg-spinner Piyush Chawla.

Chawla conceded 85 runs in 10 wicketless overs, the third-most expensive spell by an Indian in One-day Internationals after Javagal Srinath (87) and Thiru Kumaran (86).

Younis also hit eight fours in his 99-ball knock, his fourth century in One-day Internationals.

Salman was outscored by his senior partner during the partnership. He gave a difficult chance on 19 when Rohit Sharma failed to hold a powerful cut in the covers off Praveen Kumar.

After that let-off the left-hander gave no hope to the Indian bowlers, striking the ball cleanly before retiring hurt with cramps. He hit three sixes and 12 fours in his 136-ball knock.

It was Salman’s seventh century in One-day Internationals, and his fifth against India.

Pakistan plundered 90 runs in the last 10 overs after Salman and Younis set the stage for the final onslaught.

Hosts Bangladesh, who were the other side in the tournament, failed to make the final after losing both their matches.

Scoreboard

PAKISTAN:

Salman Butt retired hurt 129

Kamran Akmal c Dhoni b I. Pathan 15

Younis Khan c Sehwag b I. Sharma 108

Misbah-ul-Haq c R. Sharma b I. Pathan 33

Shahid Afridi not out 10

Shoaib Malik not out 11

EXTRAS (B-2, LB-4, W-2, NB-1) 9

TOTAL (for three wkts, 50 overs) 315

FALL OF WKTS: 1-34, 2-239, 3-293.

DID NOT BAT: Mohammad Yousuf, Fawad Alam, Sohail Tanvir, Rao Iftikhar, Umar Gul.

BOWLING: Praveen Kumar 10-1-37-0; I. Sharma 10-0-57-1 (1nb, 2w), I.K. Pathan 10-0-59-2; Piyush Chawla 10-0-85-0; Sehwag 3-0-26-0, Y.K. Pathan 2-0-11-0; Yuvraj Singh 4-0-23-0; Raina 1-0-11-0.

NOTE: Salman retired hurt at 282-2.

INDIA: V. Sehwag, G. Gambhir, Yuvraj Singh, R.L. Sharma, S.K. Raina, Yusuf Pathan, M.S. Dhoni, Irfan Pathan, Praveen Kumar Piyush Chawla, I. Sharma.

UMPIRES: Nadir Shah (Bangladesh) and E.A.R. de Silva (Sri Lanka).

TV UMPIRE: A.F.M. Akhtaruddin (Bangladesh).

MATCH REFEREE: Jeff Crowe (New Zealand).—Agencies