NEW DELHI, April 28: Rajendra Varma scored an unbeaten 84 to help India beat Pakistan by nine wickets and take 1-0 lead in the five-match one-day cricket series for blind here Thursday. Captain Manvendra Singh chipped in with unbeaten 32 and Shekhar Naik bagged two wickets for 18 as India romped home at Jamia Millia Islamia grounds.

In a match reduced to 25 overs per side due to overnight rains, Pakistan managed just 156 in 23.5 overs, with Abdur Razzaq scoring 34 and Syed Sultan Shah making 24. Naik scalped two batsmen for 18 runs in five overs.

In reply, India made 158 for one in 18.5 overs.

Varma was adjudged Man-of- the-Match.

Indian Test batsman V.V.S. Laxman presented the prizes.—Agencies