Pakistan Blow Past India

By newsadmin at 27 September, 2009, 7:06 pm

An imposing score batting first and some excellent spin bowling saw a great win.
As always, an India Pakistan clash means a full house and millions watching back home. — Photo by AFP
The crowd was characterised by some wonderful spirit between the two sets of spectators.

Pakistan won the toss and elected to bat first on what looked an absolute belter. The openers started frenetically, and it seemed like a huge first innings score was close at hand. However, Ashish Nehra produced some excellent bowling to leave Pakistan reeling at the start.

Shoaib Malik and Mohammed Yousuf came together at 3-65, and began patiently. — Photo

Mohammed Yousuf was especially watchful early on, quietly hitting the singles and playing percentage cricket.
i $Once they were set, the two began to open up. Shoaib Malik in particular was severe on anything even fractionally short and never allowed the spinners to settle. — Photo by AFP$

Once they were set, the two began to open up. Shoaib Malik in particular was severe on anything even fractionally short and never allowed the spinners to settle.

At one stage it looked like the total would be a lot higher, but India came back well in the last five overs, taking a flurry of wickets to restrict the Pakistanis to 302

Pakistan started in the best possible manner, with young Aamer delivering on his promise to take out Tendulkar early
However, it was a different ball-game once the Pakistani spinners came on. Afridi was especially effective, using all his variations and extracting sharp turn to keep the batsmen guessing. — Photo by AFP
Gambhir batted like a dream, middling virtually everything en route to a scintillating fifty.
Ajmal was at his miserly best, and eventually claimed the wicket of the well set Suresh Raina with a quicker ball. — Photo by AFP
Dravid played the anchor’s roll well, supporting Gambhir early on. When the left hander was dismissed by a smart direct hit from captain Younis Khan, Dravid began to take the initiative.
The quick men soon finished off the job the spinners began, with Aamer returning to remove the dangerous Yousuf Pathan, while Rana Naveed maintained the pressure at the other end. — Photo by AFP
However, it was a different ball-game once the Pakistani spinners came on. Afridi was especially effective, using all his variations and extracting sharp turn to keep the batsmen guessing.
In the end it was a comfortable 54 run victory for Pakistan as spectators began flooding onto the field. — Photo by AP