LAHORE, Feb 13: A whirlwind unbeaten 72 by Mahendra Singh Dhoni guided India to a five-wicket victory in the third One-day International against Pakistan at the Qadhafi Stadium on Monday.

Dhoni’s belligerent 46-ball knock in the unbroken 102-run partnership with Yuvraj, who finished an unbeaten 79 off 79 balls, enabled the Indians to take a 2-1 lead in the five-match series as they won with 17 deliveries to spare.

The game again exposed Pakistan’s bowling limitations in the absence of Shoaib Akhtar to defend a fighting total of 288 on a good wicket.

Until Yuvraj and Dhoni came together, the match was evenly balanced with India at 190 for five. But the sixth-wicket pair, changed the complexion with their dazzling stroke-play and fine running when the tourists required 79 from 11 overs.

Yuvraj, who survived a caught and bowled chance off Rana Navedul Hasan on 10, had earlier been involved in a crucial stand of 105 in 94 balls with Sachin Tendulkar.

Yuvraj laced his 87-ball innings with 10 boundaries while Man-of-the-Match Dhoni hit 13 fours, including the winning stroke when he pulled Abdul Razzaq to the long-leg fence.

Tendulkar had kept India in the hunt as he stroked 16 fours and one six on his way to 95 off 104 deliveries.

The Indians lost two early wickets in the absence of Virender Sehwag, who sat it out with a shoulder injury, when Mohammad Asif disposed of Gautam Gambhir (2) and the Irfan Pathan (0).

But Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid batted sensibly in difficult conditions in a stand of 72 before the latter was run out for 22 by a direct hit from Umar Gul.

Tendulkar, who was given a ‘life’ on 36 by Kamran Akmal, was dismissed by Razzaq with substitute Imran Farhat taking a fine catch at point.

A run later, new man Mohammad Kaif was adjudged leg before for a duck.

Earlier, the Pakistan innings was held together by a workmanlike century from Shoaib Malik, who scored 108 off 120 balls to follow his great run in the series.

Shoaib’s fifth ODI century was laced with 11 boundaries and one six. Razzaq was other major contributor in an otherwise disappointing batting display by Pakistan.

Razzaq, who shared a seventh-wicket stand of 86 with Shoaib, blasted a 56-ball 64 to revive Pakistan’s innings. The belligerent all-rounder carved his innings with seven fours and two sixes.

Pakistan, who had lost the toss, did not take advantage of the poor catching from the Indians, who floored four catches, including three off the desperately unlucky Shanthakumaran Sreesanth.

Salman Butt went in almost the same way as he did in the Pindi ODI, losing his wicket to the second ball of the day.

Shahid Afridi, who was promoted as opener despite being troubled by a rib injury, fell for 19.

Kamran Akmal scored 34 after being let off twice, before R.P. Singh had him caught by Pathan.

Mohammad Yousuf lasted only two balls before offering Dhoni an easy catch off Singh. But Yousuf’s single run was enough to take him to 7,000 runs in 210 ODIs. Pakistan then suffered two big losses as both Inzamamul Haq and Younis Khan were out after each made 16.

SCOREBOARD