June 27, 2008	Friday	Jamadi-us-Sani 22, 1429

KARACHI, June 26: Skipper Shoaib Malik led from the front to register his first century since becoming the national captain as hosts Pakistan set India a challenging target of 300 in the crucial Asia Cup Group ‘B’ match here at the National Stadium on Thursday.

The 26-year-old right-hander made a fluent 125 off 119 balls to help his side pile up 299 for four after electing to bat first on a placid track. Pakistan’s total fell 16 short of what had posted during their 25-run victory in the tri-series final against India earlier this month.

Malik and Younis Khan (59 off 60 balls, five fours) cashed in splendidly on the superb 90-run opening stand in which Salman Butt contribution was a brisk 35.

India’s Chawla broke the threatening first wicket partnership when he induced Salman (35 off 64 balls, four fours) into pulling a simple catch to Suresh Raina at midwicket.

Younis, looking busy as usual, continued from where he had left off in the tri-series final against opponents. A reverse-swept boundary from the 30-year-old off spinner Yousuf Pathan saw Pakistan reach 150 at the start of the 31st over. Malik went to his century in 104 balls when steered Ishant Sharma to third man for a single in the 36th over.

The second-wicket partnership, worth 129 in 145 balls, ended abruptly when Malik was forced to head back to the pavilion after a bout of cramps restricted his movement.

In his well-compiled innings, Malik hit 16 fours and one six to reach three figures that ended a 55-match spell without an ODI ton. His century on Thursday was his third against India. Coincidentally, the last of Malik’s six limited-overs centuries in 165 matches was also scored against India at Lahore in February 2006.

A sizeable crowd of over 20,000 was entertained to good cricket by both the teams. India did well to prevent Pakistan from going over 300-run mark despite some shoddy display in the field in final stages of the innings.

Pakistan managed to collect 80 runs after starting the 41st over at 219 for one which was mainly due to fine death over bowling from Dhoni’s men.

The hosts owed their final total to little cameos from Mohammad Yousuf (30 off 20 balls, five fours) and Misbah-ul-Haq, who remained unbeaten on 31 off 26 balls with three boundaries. Shahid Afridi, who was warmly greeted to the crease, lasted only eight deliveries before an angling delivery from left-arm pacer R.P. Singh forced the all-rounder to edge a simple catch to Dhoni behind the stumps.

R.P. Singh was the most economical of the bowlers while Ishant Sharma conceded almost seven an over and Chawla went for 52 runs in his seven.

Pakistan opted to field an unchanged side for the match while India left out Robin Uthappa and Manpreet Gony to accommodate Yuvraj Singh and Ishant Sharma, both of them rested from Wednesday’s cakewalk victory against Hong Kong. All-rounder Irfan Pathan was not risked as he continues to recover from a side strain.

Scoreboard

PAKISTAN:

Salman Butt c Raina b Chawla 35

Shoaib Malik retired hurt 125

Younis Khan c Raina b Pathan 59

Mohammad Yousuf run out 30

Misbah-ul-Haq not out 31

Shahid Afridi c Dhoni b R.P. Singh 9

Sohail Tanvir not out 3

EXTRAS (B-1, LB-1, W-5) 7

TOTAL (for 4 wkts, 50 overs) 299

FALL OF WKTS: 1-90, 2-223, 3-261, 4-290.

DID NOT BAT: Fawad Alam, Sarfraz Ahmed, Umar Gul, Rao Iftikhar.

BOWLING: Praveen Kumar 10-0-56-0 (1w); R.P. Singh 10-2-44-1 (1w); I. Sharma 10-0-69-0 (3w); Chawla 7-0-52-1; Pathan 9-0-52-1; Yuvraj Singh 4-0-24-0.

INDIA: G. Gambhir, V. Sehwag, R.G. Sharma, Yuvraj Singh, M.S. Dhoni, S.K. Raina, Y.K. Pathan, P. Kumar, Piyush Chawla, R.P. Singh, I. Sharma.

UMPIRES: A.L. Hill (New Zealand) and B.G. Jerling (South Africa).

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

MATCH REFEREE: A.G. Hurst (Australia).