AMSTELVEEN, 22 August 2004 — Pakistan scored a convincing 66-run win over India in the rain-hit opening match of the Videocon Cup tri-series cricket tournament here yesterday.
Set to score 194 for a win at the rate of 5.78 runs an over, India succumbed to the Pakistani spin duo of Shahid Afridi and Shoaib Malik to be all out for 127 in a match reduced to 33 overs a side due to rain.
Man of the Match Shoaib Malik smashed a fine 68 to take Pakistan to 193 for six. He then took three wickets for 18 runs with his off-spin bowling to take his side to victory.
Afridi was the most successful Pakistani bowler, claiming four wickets for 20 runs.
After a break today, India play world champions Australia tomorrow in the three-team league. Afridi gave Pakistan an explosive start when he hoisted Irfan over long on for a mighty six. Play was held up for several minutes to search for the ball.
Afridi also gave the same treatment to Ajit Agarkar pulling and driving him for two fours. But he also got out in a fashion which has become somewhat customary for him, skying Agarkar over cover where Rohan Gavaskar took a well-judged catch. Newcomer Shoaib was cautious to start with but began opening out and struck some delightful boundaries.
The Indian fielding was tight and runs were hard to come by. This put pressure on the Pakistanis especially in a match reduced to only 36 overs a side. Yasser Hamid tried to accelerate and fell edging to the wicketkeeper and became Lakshmipati Balaji’s first victim.
Balaji struck another blow when skipper Inzamam ul-Haq was unlucky to be declared caught behind. His bat seemed far away from the ball. At 56 for three in the 15th over, Pakistan were struggling.
The rains came back as soon as the two teams went in for the drinks break and Pakistan were 74 for three in 17 overs. The break further reduced the match by three overs each side.
Malik and Youhana were involved in a useful 66-run partnership. Youhana lofted Irfan over covers for a huge six as he came back for his second spell. The stand was broken by a direct hit from the deep by Sehwag and Youhana was run out as he went for the second run. Youhana contributed 28 useful runs.
Malik duly completed his half century off only 51 balls. He stepped out against Kumble a couple of times to force him to the fence. But he was out trying to repeat the shot, holing out to deep cover for Kaif to take the catch. His 68 came off 67 balls and had seven hits to the fence. Balaji struck again, getting rid of newcomer Younis Khan without addition to the total, the batsman edging to Dravid to give Balaji his third wicket. He finished with three for 27 in his seven overs.
Then followed the best part of the Pakistan innings with Abdur Razzaq and Moin Khan sharing a quickfire unbeaten 57-run seventh wicket partnership.
Agarkar’s last over cost 20 runs, Razzaq lofting his first delivery for a huge six and Moin driving and steering him for two fours.
Razzaq remained unbeaten on 35 and Moin on 27 to give Pakistan a fighting chance of winning the match. Irfan proved to be the most expensive Indian bowler, conceding 57 runs in seven overs without taking a wicket.
In the absence of Sachin Tendulkar, Ganguly opened the innings with Sehwag. The two set about overhauling the Pakistan total in right earnest, Sehwag in particular being harsh on both opening bowlers Sami and Shabbir, cracking two boundaries. It was too good to last and Sehwag fell driving straight to the cover fielder.
Shoaib came on first change and after a bad first over, applied the brakes to the fast moving Indian scoreline.
V.V.S. Laxman lived dangerously, top-edging Shoaib for a six over third man after having driven him fluently straight to the fence.
Ganguly was batting confidently, driving and lofting with aplomb. The grassy, slow outfield made not allow many boundaries.
Ganguly got out pulling Shabbir for Youhana to take a good catch at long leg. He made 25.
But his deputy Rahul Dravid was run out without opening his score. Laxman played Sami to mid-off. Dravid hesitated and Inzamam’s throw to Moin saw the stumper remove the bails in a flash. The third umpire did not take long to give Dravid out. India had lost their third wicket for 70. After Malik forced Laxman to play on, the Indians just disintegrated. Laxman made 37 off 51 balls.
Agarkar and Rohan both fell to Malik and Afridi got rid of Yuvraj, Kaif, Irfan and Balaji to take Pakistan to a well deserved victory.
