The Hindu : India clinches thriller against Pakistan

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Mar 14, 2004

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India clinches thriller against Pakistan

Yuvraj Singh lifts up Ashish Nehra after India won the match in Karachi on Saturday. — Photo: S. Subramanium

KARACHI, MARCH 13. Rahul Dravid fell one run short of a deserved century today as India held on to defend its best ever total of 349 for seven against Pakistan and win the opening one-day international of the first full tour of its rival neighbour in 14 years.

The Pakistan captain, Inzamam-ul-Haq, hit a majestic century, but could not stop India claiming a narrow five-run victory in a nerve-wracking match in front of about 33,000 home supporters at the National Stadium here.

"It could have been my best innings in one-day internationals had we won the match," said Inzamam, after scoring his ninth century in limited overs cricket.

Inzamam led Pakistan from the front and smashed 122 off 104 balls with a dozen boundaries and two sixes. However, his dismissal in the 43rd over allowed India to sneak through and stop Pakistan at 344 for eight off its 50 overs.

Inzamam, named Man of the Match, was involved in two productive partnerships after India dealt two early blows and reduced the home team to 34 for two in eight overs. He added 135 runs off 120 balls with Yousuf Youhana (73) and then put on a further 109 with Younis Khan (46) off 88 deliveries.

The Indian captain, Sourav Ganguly, said: "It's a good way to start with a win but it's still an open series. I just told Nehra `please, don't give 10 runs' (in the last over) and he exactly did that."

"People were so excited and there was so much noise (around the stadium) that I couldn't hear my team-mates," he added.

Earlier, Dravid hit 99 off 104 balls, while Virender Sehwag made a blistering 79 . — AP

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