Pakistan Triumph in Kolkata Party

World class cricket was once again the winner today, as Pakistan's brilliant all round strokeplay guided by opener Salman Butt helped seal Pakistan's triumph in the inaugural BCCI Platinum Jubliee ODI Match.

It was festival weekend in Pakistan and India, and there was nothing better than world class cricket to cap off a fantastic Eid/Diwali weekend with arch rivals Pakistan and India locking horns.

With a party atmosphere around Eden Gardens in Kolkata ever present, India won the toss and elected to bat first with vocarious approval from the home crowd.

Sachin Tendulkar began looking like the dangerous Tendulkar of old with two quick boundaries. However Tendulkar's Eden Gardens experience would be shortlived as Younis Khan ran out the little master for only 16.

Virender Sehwag and the always stylish VVS Laxman had partnerships on their mind as the pair combined brute force with sheer elegance to move the Indian total past 100.

Laxman (43) however soon gave his wicket away to Shahid Afridi as he edged one to Kamran Akmal who held on to a quick sharp catch off the leg spinner.

Virender Sehwag kept going and registered another ODI half century. However his joy did not last long as he was bowled by the crafty Shahid Afridi for 53 as Pakistan were looking to get back into the game with India at 3/124.

Sourav Ganguly and Rahul Dravid played the consolidation role in the middle orders and safely got India past the 150 run mark. The two looked settled before Rahul Dravid (16) was dismissed by Abdul Razzaq as India were now 4/163.

Enter Yuvraj Singh, the under seige left hand batsman with an abundance of natural talent had a lot to answer for after his dismal showing against the Australian's and in England recently.

The brutal left hander took it upon himself to blast the Pakistani bowling and provided substantial entertainment to the partisan Indian crowd.

With the score at 237, Sourav Ganguly (48) fell to Shoaib Akhtar as he edged one to wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal. The Indian Captain missed out on a half century and was clearly disappointed on not carrying on after all the initial hard work.

Yuvraj Singh though was unfazed as he turned up the heat in Kolkata and capitalised on any delivery which was even remotely off line. The brutal left hander finished up with 78 off just 62 balls and India finished up with a potentially match winning total of 6/292.

Pakistan needed to bat with great intent if they were to win this match, but they got off to the worst possible start as Younis Khan was caught by Sehwag off Zaheer for 0 as Pakistan were already 1/15.

Enter the dangerman for India, Shoaib Malik. The ever aggressive Malik paired with inexperienced opener Salman Butt and the two carved into India's fragile bowling. The two combined aggression with sensible batting and tore apart Ashish Nehra and Zaheer Khan.

Pakistan reached their 100 in just 18.4 overs and then Salman Butt and Shoaib Malik completed their respective hald centuries as Pakistan looked on track to complete a famous victory.

But a hiccup ensued for Pakistan as the dangerman Shoaib Malik was out for 61 off the part time bowling of Virender Sehwag as he was caught by the brilliant Mohammad Kaif.

The punishment for India's bowlers would not stop however as Salman Butt and Inzamam Ul Haq continued to rub salt into India's threadbare bowling.

Salman Butt looked in sublime form and the veteran Inzamam looked at this best as the pair looked to pull off a famous Pakistan victory. However, another tragedy ensued for Pakistan as the inform Salman Butt was forced to retire hurt on 68*.

Inzamam continued on as he reached his half century, but Yousuf Youhana didn't last long as the experienced Pakistani batsman was out for just 18 off the bowling of Ashish Nehra.

With Youhana dismissed, one saw a determined Salman Butt striding to the crease. India should've been wary of the injured player as Butt turned up the heat on an already pressure cooker situation as Butt's strokeplay tore apart the Indian bowling and gave Pakistan the advantage.

With the score at 284 in the 49th over, the match was at its thrilling conclusion, and India struck in the nick of time as Inzamam Ul Haq was dismissed by Ashish Nehra for a superb 75 as India were back in contention for a thrilling win.

Once again the old adage of beware the injured player came true as Salman Butt smashed his way to his ODI century and subsequently won Pakistan a thrilling contest against the old foe on Indian soil.

Salman Butt finished with an extraordinary 108* as Pakistan won a memorable contest by 6 wickets.

Brief Score Summary:

India: 6/292 (Yuvraj 78, Sehwag 53, Ganguly 48, Afridi 2/29, Razzaq 1/49)

Pakistan: 4/293 (Salman Butt 108*, Inzamam 75, Malik 51, Nehra 2/65, Sehwag 1/43)

Pakistan Wins The BCCI Platinum Jubilee Match By 6 Wickets

Cricket Web Player of the Match: Salman Butt (PAK)


Posted by Sangrah