Awesome Pakistan Strike Back

An awesome display of batting by Salman Butt and then a superb spell of bowling by Rana Naved helped Pakistan crush India by 106 runs.

Inzamam Ul Haq won a crucial toss at Jamshedpur and elected to bat without any hesitation. Salman Butt and Shahid Afridi began with a bang, and took to the wayward Indian bowling.

India were soon rewarded with a breakthrough as once again Ashish Nehra got Afridi’s wicket, this time Afridi playing a delivery straight to the waiting hands of Rahul Dravid. Afridi was gone for 17 and Pakistan were 1/31.

India’s two arch rivals, Salman Butt and Shoaib Malik were together and the pair once again tormented the Indian bowlers and imposed their presence on the Indian side.

Salman Butt and Shoaib Malik played some attractive shots and led Pakistan from the front on their way to the 150 run mark. Both batsmen passed their respective half centuries and things were looking rather ominous for the Indians.

However, India fought back, this time through part time bowler, Virender Sehwag as he had dangerman Shoaib Malik dismissed for 75. India were fighting back into the match as the vital wicket of Inzamam fell quickly after.

The powerful and experienced Inzamam fell for 23 after making them in quick time. However it was once again Salman Butt’s day, as he registered another ODI century against his name and another century against India following on from his wonderful century at the Eden Gardens during the Platinum Jubilee match.

However, Butt didn’t last too long after as he was run out for 101. Yousuf Youhana’s 43 helped Pakistan reach a commanding total of 9/319 off their 50 overs and it seemed a daunting proposition for the Indian batting ot chase down.

India began their chase woefully as Sehwag (2) and Tendulkar (6) fell in the space of 3 overs. The out of form Sourav Ganguly was the next man to go for a paltry 4 with Rana Naved Ul Hasan picking up his wicket.

Dhoni and Dravid tried to provide the resistance, but Rana Naved put an end to Dhoni’s innings as Dhoni departed for 28 as Rana Naved picked up his third wicket.

Rana Naved struck again as he picked up the woefully out of form, Yuvraj Singh (1) as Rana picked up his fourth wicket against the sinking Indian’s.

With India looking in dire need of a recovery, Mohammad Sami crushed all Indian hopes as he picked up Dravid for 28 as India were looking down the face of certain defeat.

Mohammad Kaif (32) provided some resistance, but he soon too was heading back to the pavilion thanks to leg spinner Danish Kaneria. India now were 7/143 with defeat looking imminent.

Irfan Pathan however came to the party and showed some of the high profile Indian batsmen how to bat against the Pakistani bowling lineup. Pathan smashed his way to 64 off 80 balls, which included 4 massive sixes.

However Pathan’s individual effort was not enough for India, as Pakistan dismissed India for 213 with the star of the evening being Rana Naved Ul Hasan taking an astonishing 6/27 off his 8.4 overs.

Brief Score Summary:

Pakistan: 9/319 (Butt 101, Malik 75, Nehra 3/57)

India: 213 All Out (Pathan 64, Kaif 32, Rana Naved Ul Hasan 6/27, Sami 2/41)

Pakistan Won By 106 Runs

India Lead 6 Match ODI Series 2-1

Cricket Web Player of the Match: Rana Naved Ul Hasan (PAK)