 India maul Pakistan to snap their winning streak
10th Jun 2008 23:02 IST
Agencies
India snapped Pakistan's winning streak by inflicting on them a crushing 140-run defeat in the second match of the one-day tri-series at Sher-e-Bangla stadium at Mirpur in Dhaka tonight.
An all round performance ensured an Indian victory as their batsmen and bowlers fired in unison to stop Pakistan's march towards 13th consecutive win.
Indians, having elected to bat, piled up massive 330/8, thanks to a stupendous batting by the top-order.
Openers Virender Sehwag (89) and Gautam Gambhir (62) hit sparkling half-centuries and shared an amazing 155-run partnership to lay a strong foundation for the big total.
Pakistan, in reply, were bundled out for 190 in just 35.4 overs, giving India its biggest win against them.
Skipper Shoaib Malik waged a lone battle with his 53-run knock and did not find any able ally at the other end.
Praveen Kumar (4/53) spoiled Pakistan run-chase as he rocked Pakistan battling line up by claiming three quick wickets, including two on consecutive balls.
Young spinner Piyush Chawla also returned with brilliant figures of 4/40.
Pakistan were tottering at 26/3 inside the first five overs after Kumar scalped Salman Butt (9), Younis Khan (0) and Mohammad Yousuf (11), sending shock waves in the Pakistani camp.
However, Kumar was creamed for 17 runs in the ninth over of the innings when Kamran Akmal, who looked in sublime touch, and Misbah-ul-Haq reeled off four boundaries to take the Pakistan score to 58/3.
Akmal (38) then hoicked Kumar for a big six but the Uttar Pradesh bowler had the last laugh when he sent back to the hut the Pakistani wicket-keeper batsman.
Akmal, who was on offensive, mistimed a low full toss and ended up caught at mid-on by Yusuf Pathan.
Misbah (24) too joined Akmal in the dressing room when teen sensation Ishant Sharma beat him with a pacy and rising delivery and induced an edge, taken comfortable by Mahendra Singh Dhoni.
The big burden of climbing the run-mountain then fell on the shoulders of skipper Malik and out of form Shahid Afridi as the asking rate soared up to seven runs an over.
A much-needed partnership once again eluded the Pakistani side as Afridi (23) succumbed to over aggression, failing to build on a good start.
He walked out of his crease to hit Piyush Chawla but the missed the line completely and Dhoni had no trouble in stumping.
It was a matter of formality from here as Pakistan's hopes had ended with Afridi's wicket.
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