ABU DHABI, April 19: Pakistan face a tough task if they aspire to clinch the two-match One-day International series after India posted 269 for five in the last game on Wednesday at the Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium.

In sharp contrast to the Tuesday’s game, it was a different story the second time around and the man who lifted Indian spirits was back-in-favour opener Virender Sehwag.

Surprisingly the wicket played much better than it did in the opening match and mercifully, the weather too was cooler with temperatures in early 30s making batting much easier after Rahul Dravid once again had no hesitation in batting first after winning the toss.

Replacing Robin Uthappa, Sehwag together with Dravid gave India a perfect launching pad for a huge total by putting on 138 runs when the dashing opening batsman was bowled by Shahid Afridi for an entertaining 73.

Sehwag’s 83-ball knock contained 10 blistering fours and one huge straight driven six.

Mahendera Singh Dhoni maintained the momentum with Dravid after the Sehwag’s departure.

Dhoni was bowled by Rana Navedul Hasan for 59, which was scored off 72 deliveries.

Dravid struck 10 fours in his 92 runs inning. He was clean bowled by Asif.

Yuvraj Singh did some damage by hammering three fours and a six to spoil Asif’s analysis. His cameo of 24 runs off just 10 deliveries perked up the scoring but once again the Indian batsmen failed to score quick runs in the closing overs.

At one stage with Dravid and Dhoni in control and only one wicket down the Indians were placed to reach 290 or even more.

All Pakistan bowlers except Shahid Afridi came under the hammer and none was more expensive than Abdul Razzaq who was the most economical bowler on Tuesday. His first four overs cost him 33 runs.

The ground fielding was below par and at least 20 runs were conceded through misfields.

Scoreboard

INDIA:

V. Sehwag b Afridi 73

R. Dravid b Asif 92

M.S. Dhoni b Rana Naved 59

Yuvraj Singh c Asif b Rana Naved 24

S.K. Raina run out 6

Irfan Pathan not out 7

EXTRAS (LB-7, W-1) 8

TOTAL (for five wkts, 50 overs) 269

FALL OF WKTS: 1-138, 2-228, 3-234, 4-255, 5-269.

DID NOT BAT: Y. Venugopal Rao, R.R. Powar, A.B. Agarkar, Harbhajan Singh, S. Sreesanth.

BOWLING: Mohammad Asif 10-2-57-1; Rana Navedul Hasan 10-2-45-2 (1w); Rao Iftikhar 10-1-51-0; Abdul Razzaq 5-0-39-0 ; Shahid Afridi 10-0-39-1; Shoaib Malik 5-0-31-0

PAKISTAN: Shoaib Malik, Imran Farhat, Shahid Afridi, Younis Khan, Inzamamul Haq, Mohammad Yousuf, Abdul Razzaq, Kamran Akmal, Rana Navedul Hasan, Rao Iftikhar, Mohammad Asif.

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).