India’s wait for a One-day series triumph over Pakistan on home soil ended tonight after 24 long years as they thrashed their archrivals by six wickets to take an invincible 3-1 lead in the five-match series.Chasing a competitive 256 for victory, the Indians overhauled the target comfortably with 21 balls to spare in a floodlit encounter which saw Sachin Tendulkar (97) missing a century for the sixth time this year.
The jinx of the 42nd century continued to haunt the master batsman who laid the foundation for the run chase but again fell agonisingly short of the three-figure mark.It was a commanding display by the hosts who not only bowled well to restrict Pakistan to 255 for 6 but also chased down the target without much fuss at the fully packed Captain Roop Singh Stadium.
While Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag (43) put the Indians on track with a 67-run third run partnership, the in-form Yuvraj Singh (53 not out) and captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni (45 not out) steered the team home. Dhoni hit Salman Butt for a six to score the winning run that triggered scenes of wild celebration in the galleries as well as the dressing room.
It was India’s first ODI series win on home soil against the traditional rivals in 24 years, the last triumph coming under Kapil Dev’s captaincy in 1983.The fifth and final match at Jaipur on Sunday has now been rendered inconsequential but the hosts, who have retained the same squad for the game, will be looking to win the series with a crushing 4-1 verdict.
If Tendulkar went through the frustration for missing his ton by a whisker, Mohammad Yousuf was also left stranded on an unbeaten 99 in the Pakistan innings, which also had notable contributions from Younis Khan (68) and Misbah-ul-Haq (40).
The convincing victory also marked new captain Dhoni’s first ODI series triumph, barely two months after the euphoric Twenty20 World Cup triumph.Tendulkar launched the leatherhunt as he went on a run-scoring spree with his vintage strokes by cutting, square driving and straight-driving Pakistan bowlers.
Tendulkar paced up his innings from the very first over by hitting a four off Shoaib Akhtar and smashed 16 boundaries in the 102 balls he faced before his rhythm was disturbed by the second drinks break and he was bowled out by Umar Gul on the first bowl of 30th over.For the records, Tendulkar on Thursday completed his 18 years in international cricket and also completed 27,000 runs in all forms of the game at the highest level.
Tendulkar also stitched a 115-ball 107-run partnership with Virender Sehwag (43 off 49 balls) for the third wicket after India lost opener Sourav Ganguly (5) and Gautam Gambhir (3) in first eight overs.Ganguly fell to Shoaib Akhtar while Sehwag was run out after a 49-ball 43, hitting four fours besides a towering six.The next pair of Dhoni and Yuvraj, who helped India win Kanpur, once again continued the good work from where Tendulkar left India, at 159 for four.Yuvraj’s knock included four boundaries and a six while Dhoni (3×4, 1×6) also played his part, featuring in a 100-run partnership for sixth wicket in 104 balls.
Yousuf, who hit seven fours and two sixes, was also involved in a 90-run stand with Misbah-ul-Haq (40) after captain Shoaib Malik elected to bat in the day-night clash.Dropped by Ganguly, the experienced batsman made the most of the opportunity and helped Pakistan blast 77 runs in the last 10 overs.Pakistan, were jolted by RP Singh who trapped Salman Butt, the century maker in previous match, for duck in the second ball of the innings.But Younis (68, 5×4, 1×6) and Malik (31, 3×4) stitched 78 runs to lay a solid foundation for the decent total.
Younis got two lives, thanks to captain wicketkeeper Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who first dropped the batsman on six and missed stumping when the batsman was on 48.Younis was eventually out giving a return catch to Yuvraj Singh in the 30th over.Malik departed in the 20th over, bowled by Zaheer Khan, who thus became India’s fifth bowler to pick 200 ODI wickets.
Shahid Afridi (1), the next batsman in, became Ganguly’s 100th wicket.The former captain, became only the third cricketer after compatriot Sachin Tendulkar and Sanath Jayasuriya of Sri Lanka to have achieved the double of claiming 100 wickets as well as scoring 10,000 runs. Source : cricket.indiatimes
