Malik powers Pakistan to easy win

Asia Cup: Pakistan v India
July 25, 2004 at RPS, Colombo

Faced with the prospect of being knocked out the Asia Cup, the defending champions Pakistan put up a thoroughly professional performance, to defeat arch-rivals India by 59 runs, in the fourth match of the second round of the Asia Cup in Sri Lanka.

Shoaib Malik was the hero again for Pakistan, the second time in this tournament, as he bettered his previous best score, by scoring 143 off 127 balls, as the under-dogs going into the match set India a mammoth target of 301. Malik returned later to chip in with two important wickets, and gain the Man of the Match award.

Sachin Tendulkar displayed his new found conservation, but hitting 78, but regular wickets around him, meant he wasn't left with enough partners, to give the target a go. Eventually, India finished well short of 301, on 241/8.

Batting first, Pakistan never looked in trouble, and set for a huge score, despite regular wickets, thanks to Malik's over-powering century, that included 18 fours and a six. Yasir Hameed and Inzamam-ul-Haq ably supported the young all-rounder with their respective scores in 30s.

India recalled Anil Kumble, for the injured VVS Laxman, keeping in mind the spin-friendly nature of the Premadasa track. He didn't disappoint, as he took 49/2 in his ten overs, trying to stem the flow of runs from his end, while Malik went berserk on the other.

It was Tendulkar however, who prevented Pakistan from scoring well past 300, by taking 28/3 in five overs, removing Malik, as well as the dangerous Moin Khan.

India's reply didn't get off to the best of starts, as the seemingly out-of-form Virendar Sehwag was out in only the second over of the innings. Though Sourav Ganguly and Tendulkar tried to resurrect the chase after the early loss, regular wickets after that of the former meant that India weren't in with a serious chance.

India got a glimmer of hope when Yuvraj Singh and Tendulkar were involved in a decent partnership. However after the fall of Singh's wicket, they seemed to have accepted a loss, and tried not to concede the bonus point to Pakistan.

Pakistan 300 for 9 (50 overs)
Shoaib Malik 143(127), Irfan Pathan 52/3(10), Sachin Tendulkar 28/3(5)
India 241 for 8 (50 overs)
Sachin Tendulkar 78(103), Shabbir Ahmed 38/2(10), Shoaib Malik 42/2(10)

Pakistan (5 points) beat India (1 point) by 59 runs.

Posted by Sudeep