KARACHI, March 13: India held their nerve to cling onto a nail-biting victory after Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq stroked a magnificent century in the ground-breaking first One-day International at the National Stadium here on Saturday.

The opening encounter of the five-match one-day series, which is to be followed by three Tests, was an emotionally-charged affair with cricket emerging as the winner, notwithstanding India's narrow five-run win after Pakistan made a gallant attempt to chase a record target of 350.

India's score of 349 for seven was based aroundRahul Dravid, who was desperately unlucky to miss a well-deserved century.

Inzamam, who made his ninth century in 308 ODIs, kept Pakistan's fading hopes alive with 122 off 117 balls, but his dismissal at 278 in the 42nd over tilted the balance India's way. After striking 12 fours and two sixeshe nicked a catch to Dravid behind the stumps.

The decisive moment of the match came in the penultimate over when Shoaib Malik was brilliantly caught on the run by a diving Mohammad Kaif, who nearly collided with Hemang Badani running in from long-on.

Pakistan needed nine runs for victory in the last over of the match, but left-arm paceman Ashish Nehra gave away just three singles and also claimed the scalp of Moin Khan, caught at cover by Saurav Ganguly off the final delivery.

Pakistan, generally considered poor chasers, responded superbly despite losing their openers Yasir Hameed (seven) and Imran Farhat (24) with only 34 runs on the board.

Yasir played across the line and was comprehensively bowled by Lakshmipathy Balaji in the only maiden over of the entire game. Imran hit four boundaries before left-arm paceman Zaheer Khan had the left-hander caught behind for 24.

Yousuf Youhana looked in prime touch in making 73 off 68 balls during a third-wicket partnership of 135 in 120 balls with Inzamam. The Pakistan vice-captain slammed four sixes, three of them in the long-off region, and five fours until part-time off-spinner Virender Sehwag had him caught by substitute Irfan Pathan inside the boundary.

Inzamam and Younis Khan, playing his first game since last October's tie against South Africa, then put on 109 in 88 balls for the fourth wicket, but thereafter Pakistan failed to get a decent partnership going. Younis made a 48-ball 46.

Tactically, Pakistan blundered in their team selection and paid the penalty for playing just five specialist bowlers on a benign pitch that was never likely to offer any help. As the Indian innings motored along merrily, the absence of all-rounder Shahid Afridi was acutely felt.

Inzamam, surprisingly, elected to field first after winning the toss. The visitors seized upon the chance to put up a massive score on the board as Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Sami offered both Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar the width.

Sehwag, however, was fortunate to escape before he had scored when Shoaib Malik floored a sitter in the covers in the match's first over. India then got another lucky break when Tendulkar, on seven, was caught by Younis Khan off a Shoaib Akhtar no-ball.

Sehwag clattered Sami for three boundaries in one over as the 50 of the partnership took 38 balls. However, Shoaib had his revenge when Tendulkar (28)was smartly held in the gully by Rana Naveed-ul-Hasan.

Sehwag continued in his belligerent mood and blasted 14 boundaries in a blistering 79 off 57 balls. Ganguly, who hit three fours and two sixes in scoring 45 off 45 balls, was a silent spectator after opening his account with a six as Sehwag cut and drove as the pair added 73 for the second wicket.

Dravid anchored the innings in his immaculate upright style with some elegant strokes, including eight boundaries, during his 108-ball knock. On reaching 99, he moved too far across inside his crease to flick Shoaib Akhtar for a single, but only managed to get a faint edge onto the stumps.

Kaif struck a 56-ball 46, which was laced with four hits to the fence as he and Dravid came together to share a partnership of 118 at run-a-ball.

Rana Naveed, the medium-pacer, made an excellent comeback after conceding 24 runs in his first over. He picked up three wickets for 73 in an unbroken stint of 10 overs from the University End. The biggest disappointment however, was Razzaq, who was thrashed at will by Indians. The all-rounder gave away 83 runs in nine overs.

Pakistan's overall bowling lacked discipline with 30 runs coming in the form of 20 no-balls and 10 wides. In sharp contrast, the Indian bowlers conceded seven wides and two no-balls, which was the main difference between winning and losing.

Statistically, the match run aggregate of 693 was the highest ever in 2112 One-day Internationals played since 1970-71, surpassing 664 made by Pakistan and Sri Lanka at Singapore in 1996. Pakistan's total of 344 for eight in 50 overs was also the highest by a team batting second and losing, outstripping the 329 scored by Sri Lanka against the West Indies at Sharjah in 1995-96. Moreover, both teams recorded their highest totals against each other in 87 ODIs.

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