PESHAWAR, 7 February 2006 — Pakistan scored a dramatic seven-run win over India in the first One-Day International here yesterday and took 1-0 lead in the five -match ODI series. The home team was declared winner under special rules when play had to be stopped due to bad light after 47 overs of the Pakistan innings were completed.
Chasing a tough target of 329 set by India, Pakistan scored 311 for seven in 47 overs when the umpires decided that play could not be continued and according to the Duckworth-Lewis scoring system the home team at that stage was seven runs ahead of India.
Pakistan owed their win to a commanding 151-run second wicket partnership between Salman Butt and Shoaib Malik after Butt and his opening partner Kamran Akmal had given their team a good 50-run start.
Butt’s 101, his third ODI century, was a treat to watch as he almost brought all Indian bowlers into submission. Malik, who had missed the last Test due to his father’s death, scored a breezy 90 from 67 balls which included nine boundaries and three sixes.
Once these two departed, the home team seemed to have lost their way, with four wickets falling for 67 runs, including the strange dismissal of skipper Inzamam-ul-Huq, who was given out for obstructing the field.
Inzamam tried to keep a throw away from hitting the stumps with the bat after making 16. Australian umpire Simon Taufel adjudged the Pakistan skipper out as he was also out of his crease.
The crowd favorite Shahid Afridi did not last long and was run out for 16.
A lot now depended on vice-captain Younis Khan and middle order batsman Mohammad Yousuf. But Yousuf virtually gifted his wicket by lobbing a simple catch to Zaheer Khan to give Ajit Agarkar his first wicket of the match. Agarkar also dismissed all-rounder Abdul Razzaq, caught by M.S.Dhoni for four.
Younis Khan (18) and Naved-ul Hasan (11) were at the crease when the umpires stopped play due to bad light and declared Pakistan winners.
For India Agarkar got two for 58 and Sri Sreesnath, Murali Kartik shared one each.
Earlier, Sachin Tendulkar, who had been struggling for form during the Test series, cracked ten boundaries and a six in his 113-ball century. He added 94 for the second wicket with Pathan (65), 126 for the third wicket with Dhoni (68) and 60 for the fourth with Yuvraj Singh (39).
India, asked to bat after Inzamam had won the toss, lost an early wicket when Virender Sehwag was caught by Akmal off a beautiful delivery from fast bowler Mohammad Asif when the total was five.
Then Tendulkar and Pathan batted superbly to revive the Indian innings before Pathan miscued a hook off Naved-ul Hasan and was caught by Imran Farhat.
Tendulkar and Dhoni accelerated the scoring rate to almost seven per over. Dhoni hit eleven boundaries and a six during his 53-ball knock before he was brilliantly caught by Malik to give Asif his second wicket.
Tendulkar, who scored his 39th ODI hundred yesterday, also completed 14,000 one-day runs when he reached 91. He completed his hundred with a single off Arshad before being trapped leg before the next ball, and his fall triggered a collapse in which India lost last six wickets for just 23 runs to be bowled out in 49.4 overs. Naved bagged 4-62 while Asif took 3-30.
Lara Helps Trinidad and Tobago End Title Drought
Reuters adds from Barbados: Trinidad and Tobago ended a 21-year title drought on Sunday when they hammered Barbados by 264 runs to clinch the Carib Beer Cup.
The triumph in the Caribbean’s leading first class tournament was a first for skipper Daren Ganga and 36-year-old former West Indies captain Brian Lara, who hailed it as one of the highlights of his long career.
“To beat Barbados in Barbados, to literally take the Cup off their shelf is an amazing feeling,” Lara told reporters.
“On the international circuit, playing Australia and beating Australia is real cricket to me. On the regional scene playing Barbados in Barbados and beating them is what it’s all about.”
Barbados resumed the final day of the four-day match on 112-6, needing an unlikely 412 for victory. Merv Dillon’s 5-36 consigned the hosts to their heaviest defeat in the history of the modern championship.
The victory put Trinidad level on points with Barbados at the top of the table but Ganga’s side took the title by virtue of winning the head-to-head clash between the teams. “You have to understand I am now aged 36,” said Lara, who contributed 54 and 47 with the bat. “Any sort of success on the playing field would be greeted with uncontrollable emotions because I’m not sure I’ll experience it again.
“Barbados and Jamaica are the premier teams in regional cricket. After 21 years to come to Barbados and snatch this victory, and this trophy away from them, is a special occasion for us.”
